Chapter 3: The First Encounter
The first light of dawn broke through the smog-choked skies, casting a dim glow over the military base. The usual hum of activity was replaced by an unsettling stillness, a tension that clung to the air like smoke. Carter stood at the observation deck, watching as the recruits prepared for the unexpected. They'd been training for weeks, honing their skills in the simulation pods, but no virtual behemoth could truly replicate the terror of facing one in person. Today, they would get their first taste of that nightmare.
A low rumble echoed across the base. It was distant at first, barely noticeable, but Carter's trained instincts immediately went on high alert. He turned to the communications officer, his face grim.
"What's that?"
The officer's fingers flew across the console, tapping in commands. "It's an incoming behemoth signal. Massive energy signature, heading straight for the city."
Carter didn't need to hear more. His eyes locked onto the horizon, where the first dust clouds began to rise. It wasn't just one behemoth. It was a whole swarm.
"Prepare the recruits. Now," he snapped, turning on his heel and storming toward the hangar. The training was over. This was real.
Inside the mech hangar, the recruits were already assembling. The mechs loomed like giants in their stations, each one ready to be piloted by a nervous, eager pilot. Carter's eyes immediately sought Sierra. She was already inside her cockpit, her face tight with focus. He could feel her eyes on him as he approached.
"Everyone, listen up!" Carter's voice rang out across the bay. "We're facing multiple behemoths. They've adapted. This isn't a drill anymore. Stick to your training, keep your heads clear, and most importantly—work as a team. This isn't just about you, it's about everyone's survival."
He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. He turned to Sierra, meeting her gaze for a moment before speaking again. "Sierra, don't try to be a hero. Follow orders, stay in formation, and trust your team."
She didn't respond, but Carter could see her jaw set in determination. The rage was still there, simmering just beneath the surface, but so was something else—something more controlled.
"Alright, let's move out," Carter commanded.
The massive mechs clanked to life, their enormous feet pounding against the cracked earth as they moved into formation. The recruits, their hands shaking slightly, navigated their machines out of the hangar and into the open battlefield. The city beyond had once been a thriving metropolis, now reduced to smoldering ruins from the alien onslaught. The skyline was jagged, a series of broken buildings jutting toward the sky like the bones of a fallen giant.
Carter's mech led the charge, his voice calm as he spoke over the comms. "Stay close. The behemoths are fast and they fight in numbers. Stick together, or we'll get picked off one by one."
Sierra's mech moved into position behind his, her movements quick and precise. She was starting to look less like the angry girl who had first walked into the training bay and more like a soldier—a mech pilot ready to fight.
Then they saw them.
A shadow appeared in the distance, large and menacing. The first behemoth emerged from the smoke, its massive bulk visible against the rising sun. It was followed by two more, and then four more, their hulking figures emerging one after another from the destruction. These were no mere beasts—they were war machines, living, breathing tanks, built to destroy everything in their path.
Carter's heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm. The recruits needed him to be the steady hand guiding them through this storm. "Fire at will!" he commanded.
The battle erupted with a roar. The air was filled with the sharp crack of energy weapons as the mechs fired at the behemoths, their weapons lighting up the battlefield. The behemoths retaliated, charging with terrifying speed. Their massive claws slashed through the air, their bodies barreling forward with the force of a freight train.
Sierra fired her weapon, the shot just grazing the behemoth's side. She didn't hesitate, quickly repositioning her mech and lining up another shot. Her hands were steady now, her focus sharp, but Carter could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes.
"You're doing fine," he called over the comms. "Don't get distracted. Stay focused."
She didn't reply, but her movements became more fluid. She fired again, this time striking the behemoth square in the chest. It staggered, letting out an enraged roar, but it didn't go down. Another behemoth rushed toward her, faster than she had anticipated, its claws slashing through the air.
"Watch out!" Carter shouted, watching the trajectory of the incoming attack. But before Sierra could react, he had already charged in, his mech intercepting the behemoth's strike with a well-timed shield. The impact shook his bones, but he stood firm.
"Take it down while it's distracted!" Carter barked.
Sierra hesitated for a fraction of a second, then fired. The behemoth let out a deafening screech as the shot landed in its side, sparks and electrical feedback flashing as its systems short-circuited. It collapsed to the ground, kicking up dust and debris.
For a moment, everything was quiet.
But then the ground trembled again.
Sierra's heart pounded in her chest as she scanned the battlefield. Another behemoth—a massive one—was charging straight for her. She didn't hesitate this time. She fired first, her mech's guns roaring, but the shot was deflected by the behemoth's thick, armored hide. It closed the distance with frightening speed.
"Move!" Carter's voice crackled through her comms, but the behemoth was too close. Sierra was out of time.
Without thinking, she threw her mech into a roll, dodging the behemoth's deadly claws. The world around her spun for a moment, but she held firm, bringing the mech's weapon to bear. Her hands were steady now, the fear that had once clouded her focus gone.
She fired.
The shot was perfect.
The behemoth's head exploded in a shower of sparks, and it fell, its massive body crashing to the ground with a ground-shaking thud.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, the comms crackled.
"Good work, Sierra," Carter said, his voice low but approving. "But don't get too comfortable. This fight's far from over."
Sierra's heart was still racing, but she allowed herself a moment of relief. For the first time, she felt like she had earned her place in this fight.
But Carter was right. The battle was far from over.