Warning sirens blared throughout the dimly lit halls, echoing through the long corridors while red lights gave the complex a haunting glow. The many halls were sterile and clean, only possessing a few decorations while a few walls supported monitors now blaring warning signals. Where once these halls had supported business and commerce, they were now in the throes of a cataclysm. 

Shouts of panic and screams echoed through the halls as a rumble shook the building. People in professional attire stumbled through the halls, dust and debris raining down as pieces of the ceiling came loose. “Keep moving!” A man in a business suit grunted as he was hauled onto his feet from where he had fallen, the heavily armored figure helping him gesturing down the hall, “Proceed to the convoy! Do not stop for anything!” 

Red light glinted off the silvery armor of the various figures watching over the evacuation. Their armor was standard issue for soldiers of the United Earth Confederacy, silver in color with heavier pieces of plating located across their torsos and arms. Their joints were covered by a loose material that didn’t hinder their movement, and they each were equipped with helmets featuring ovoid visors that hid their faces completely. Though they each were equipped with the same, standard issue rectangularly shaped rifle, none of them had ever imagined needing it to defend their home. 

Screams of fear rang out as a louder sound crashed through the air. Many of the civilians stumbled and fell, even some of the soldiers falling as sections of the ceiling caved in. “The tower has been hit!” a voice shouted over the comms, a soldier in a much more advanced set of armor standing as he held the side of his helmet. His armor was much thicker, the golden highlights on his shoulder guards and more angled helmet hinting at his rank. Shaking his head, he motioned down the hall, several other soldiers assisting the stragglers as he looked the other direction, “Enemy ordinance is escalating! We can’t stay much longer!” 

“Get the convoy ready to move!” the captain grunted, turning and marching down the hall. Other soldiers followed behind him as the last of the civilians ran past, “As soon as the last survivor is loaded, I want those trucks moving towards the command center!” 

“Yes, sir!” 

“Oh, that’s not good.” Further down the hall, two soldiers were standing side by side, one keeping a hand against the side of his helmet as he listened to the open frequencies. They both looked at each other, their helmets hiding their nervous expressions, “If Commander Helkatch is down, then the northwestern part of the city is vulnerable!” 

“It’s not going to be long before they reach us then,” the other soldier nodded, looking over as the civilians finished running past them.

“If you two are done listening, get your asses moving!” the captain barked, both soldiers snapping to attention as he hurried past them. 

“Sir, Commander Helkatch is down!” the one soldier spoke with urgency, falling in behind him. The group rushed down the hall, turning a corner and moving towards the lobby of the once illustrious establishment. “His salient was all that was stopping their advance! We’re about to have a lot of machines coming down on us!” 

“You don’t think I’m aware?!” the captain barked. “Focus on the task at hand, Grant! Everyone has their part to play in this, and we have to do what we can to complete ours!” 

“But what are we going to do if that air power reaches us?” 

“Adapt!” the captain snapped, the two soldiers slowing their jog to look at each other nervously as they stepped into a large, open room. Dim light filtered in through a series of glass panes near the top of the cavernous room on the wall across from them. It was a large and ornate area, complete with the most illustrious sofas, chairs, statues, and water features that money could buy. Off to their right was what had been a reception area, complete with golden decorations, exotic plants, and all the accents money could buy, but all of that wealth mattered for nothing now.  

“We’re in trouble,” Grant spoke, both soldiers moving towards the massive doors leading outside. Other soldiers and civilians were making their way towards it, quickly filing out as the two jogged after them, “We don’t have any anti-air. How are we going to make it to the command center?!” 

“We have to keep fighting and hope that we make it that far,” the other soldier said. They both glanced up as a loud boom shook the tower, bits of crystal raining down from the chandelier. Shaking his head, he nodded towards the door, “Let’s keep our heads clear and do what we have to. People are counting on us!” 

“Because that’s reassuring for anyone,” Grant muttered, shaking his head as he hurried towards the door. When he had signed up to join the military, he had imagined bringing down pirates and serving his community. He had never in a million years imagined his home city becoming the front line of an invasion… Hurrying after his friend, he charged through the doors of the lobby and out onto the embattled streets of Crescentia. 

Light glittered all around them as he stopped on the sidewalk of the large street, flinching as a large explosion tore through the top of the skyscraper across from him. As the multitude of skyscrapers suggested, his squad was currently working on evacuating civilians in Crescentia’s downtown business district, one of the wealthiest areas in the city. There were no short buildings anywhere around him, each one reaching up towards the close and just barely brushing their bottoms. Each street was multiple lanes wide, and every corner was ripe with trees and exotic landscaping, something hardly seen in other districts. Every part of the business district had been designed to be a work of art, but now it was merely a shadow of what it had once been. 

Smoke billowed into the sky down the street to Grant’s left, large holes punched in numerous buildings. Gunfire and explosions seemed to echo all around him, mortars and missiles sometimes streaking overhead as the battle continued to wage across the city. Grant gripped his rifle a little tighter as numerous loud shrieks passed overhead, Hornet fighter craft shooting off in the direction of the bay just on the other side of the skyscraper. Although he was living through it, he could still just barely process it. This morning had begun like any other, a boring patrol down the streets, but in the blink of an eye, it had turned into one of his worst nightmares. 

Without warning, just a few short hours ago, a broadcast had been sent to every corner of the UEC. An entity calling itself the ‘Sapphire Eye’ had appeared on nearly every electronic device it could seemingly find, declaring the UEC a threat and that every human needed to be exterminated for the greater good. At first, Grant and his squadmates had been too stunned and confused to believe that it was real, but the reaction of the higher ups that had snapped them out of it. Shortly after the broadcast, news had reached them that Perseus, the most densely populated system in the region, had been obliterated, and it had been shortly after that when a fleet of warships had warped in over Crescentia, extinguishing the small hope he had been holding that this was all a bad dream. 

“Command, this is Chariot Six,” the captain spoke into his comms as he stepped onto the road. Occupying multiple lanes were several large Armored Personnel Carriers. They were wide and bulky, crawling treads with enough armor to shrug off a considerable amount of fire. A blue tinted cockpit occupied the front of the bulky vehicles, and they were complete with an anti-personnel turret. Typically, they were used to ferry troops safely through contested territory, but now they were being used to try and get civilians to safety.

Several soldiers were helping the civilians into the APCs, pulling them inside as the captain looked them over with a grim expression, “We’ve picked up the last of the survivors from the Century building, but we’re unprepared to handle whatever comes at us from Helkatch’s fallen line. We need reinforcements.”

“Negative, Chariot Six,” a voice responded instantly, the captain turning his head as he stepped towards the center of the road. “All assets have been committed to the field. We have nothing to spare.”

“We have families and children!” the captain said desperately. “If we don’t get backup then-“

“There’s nothing we can do, captain,” the voice cut him off, the man bowing his head in acceptance. “Every sector is under attack. The best we can do is direct you to the other platoons in the area, but you need to hurry. The shuttle is scheduled for takeoff in thirty minutes, with or without us.”

“Understood,” the captain sighed. Shaking his head, he looked over his shoulder, “I’ll get my team moving. Chariot Six, out.” Holding the side of his head for a moment, the captain began to march back over to the APCs, “Get them moving! Command says we only have thirty-“

“INCOMING!” Heads swiveled around abruptly as the soldiers looked down the street, many of the civilians screaming in terror as they dove for cover. On the sidewalk, Grant spun around with his gun raised, but he slowly lowered it as he turned his gaze up much higher, “Oh crap…” 

Engines roared as three fighters shot towards them, but these weren’t hornets. Light gleamed off of numerous blade-like protrusions surrounding the engines of the fighters. Each one was wide and flat, shaped like an arrowhead, and their engines were massive. They were sleek with chrome accents along their sharp edges, nothing like the UEC’s Hornet fighters, and with good reason. These fighters belonged to the invading force the UEC had first encountered only a few hours ago, the Sapphire Eye. 

Bullets ripped through the air as the three fighters fired at the convoy. Sparks ripped across the street in a barrage and tore into the defenders. Blood splattered the ground as soldiers and civilians alike fell to the ground in heaps, the screams of the dying drowned out by the roar of engines. Bullet streams shot back up at the fighters as the soldiers desperately tried to fight back, but the fighters were too fast. Twin roars shot overhead as two of them streaked past, rising high into the sky over the towers and passing out of sight, but the third was on a different trajectory. 

“Take cover!” the captain shouted, moving forward with several other soldiers as the fighter angled straight towards them, seemingly crashing to the ground, but these fighters weren’t what they seemed.

Rocketing down, plates suddenly shifted and moved all across the fighter. The blades across the engines spun and moved aside, the engines splitting open and fusing together into a thick abdomen. The sides of the fighters folded down as numerous components split and slid apart, tearing open and fusing back together as the fighter transformed. Four blade-like legs erupted from the bottom of the craft as it slammed down, plates shifting across the front of the cockpit to reveal a set of six, glowing red eyes. Like the rest of the invading force, this machine was an automaton, a sentient machine, and it was just as lethal on the ground as it was in the air. 

“Focus the eyes! Focus the eyes!” the captain shouted, taking cover behind a destroyed car before firing. Hundreds of bullets flew at the machine from different sides of the street, pelting its armor all over, but it was unphased, only chittering as it swept its gaze over them. While the UEC’s rifles were strong, its plating was a material called machinium, making it far, far tougher than anything they had to throw at it. 

Sweeping its gaze over the APCs, it let loose an animalistic chitter as it swung its pointed head around. Numerous cannons flashed beneath its head as it opened fire. Four streams of heavy caliber bullets swept over the hapless transports, more screams and shouts ringing out as the spider cut through the survivors without mercy. The soldiers within the APCs moved quickly to shut the bays, but one of them wasn’t quite quick enough. The soldier gasped as bullets punched through him, sending him tumbling backwards in a bloody heap. Locking all of its eyes on the exposed transport, the automaton hissed as it lifted its abdomen slightly. A cylindrical hole slid open on its back, a missile rising into the slot as it took aim. With a shriek, the missile shot out and arced straight into the APC.  

Fire exploded into the air as the APC bounced from the explosion. Soldiers stumbled and flew as fire rained down around them, broken bits of shrapnel falling away from the burning remains of the transport. Chittering in approval, the automaton turned its focus to the soldiers still shooting at it. It smacked one soldier away with a scream, the fighter striding forward and impaling another before gunning down a third. Bullets continued to fly as the soldiers desperately tried to fend off the automaton, but they were outmatched. 

Grant grit his teeth as he continued to fire, the automaton not even looking at him as it continued towards the APCs. Lowering his rifle in frustration, he quickly looked around for anything he could use, his gaze quickly falling on a fallen soldier. Rushing over, he rolled the body over and hurriedly checked for something heavier than a rifle. The glint of a grenade suddenly caught his eye. Glancing back at the automaton, he unclipped the grenade and hopped back onto his feet. Pulling the pin, he threw with all his might. A clank rang out as the grenade hit the automaton’s back, rolling forward and clanking against different parts before finally stopping. 

The automaton shrieked as the grenade went off, fire exploding across its back as it flailed its legs and stumbled forward. Flames burned as pieces of shrapnel fell around it, entire chunks of its back blown away, and while it wasn’t enough to kill it, it was enough to spook it. Bullets peppered the machine’s face as it hissed, pushing itself back up before shaking itself off. Snarling in fury, it suddenly shrieked and leapt back into the air, morphing into a fighter in the blink of an eye. A roar shook the air as it shot it away, smoke trailing behind it as it rose into the sky and out of view. 

Back on the street, several soldiers stepped out from behind their cover, rifles still raised uncertainly. Flames smoldered around them while blood pooled around their fallen comrades, the sudden silence more unsettling than comforting. Waiting a moment longer, one of them finally lowered their rifle and sighed, many of the others relaxing as they realized it was over. “Nice throw,” one of the other soldiers remarked, bumping into Grant’s shoulder. 

“I wish my aim had been better,” he muttered, glaring at the sky. 

“It was good enough,” the captain barked, Grant snapping out of his stupor to look at him. Helping a wounded soldier onto their feet, the captain looked around, “Connor, Maystein! Help the wounded onto APC One-Six-Five-Four. As for the remaining APCs, get moving! We can’t stay here any longer!” 

“Do you really think we can make it to the command center?” Grant asked, a rumble shaking the street as the remaining APCs began to move. “That thing almost slaughtered us by itself, and it’s at least a twenty-minute hike to the command center!” 

“Do you have a better idea?” the captain asked dryly. Setting the sounded soldier onto the back of the APC, he turned to Grant, “That shuttle is the only chance these people have, and it’s our duty to get them there alive. Even if there’s no chance, it’s our duty to try.”

Grant held his gaze for a moment, but finally lowered it in thought. With a heavy sigh, he nodded, hefting his rifle up as he looked at the captain, “We had better get moving then, Sir.”

“I’m not so sure that the shuttle leaving without us is our primary concern anymore,” one of the other soldiers remarked, his gaze focused down the road. 

Raising his brow, Grant turned and followed his gaze, many of the other soldiers looking up as well. A constant, droning hum shook the sky as a colossal sight slowly pulled into view. Dark, bronze plating covered the entirety of the massive ship. From the front, all one could see was a pentagon, the ship having the silhouette resembling a whale from the side. A massive set of engines occupied its rear, and it had two small fins on either side with their own engines. Although the Sapphire Eye was still an enigma to them, they had been fighting long enough now to at least understand that they were all staring at a supercarrier, and it wasn’t the scariest thing in the sky. 

“That thing is moving in our direction,” the captain grunted, eyeing the cloud of fighters swarming all around it. “We have to get moving! We’re in a race for our lives, and we can’t let that Supercarrier beat us.” With that, the captain turned and began marching. Many of the other soldiers turned and followed, but Grant didn’t move. His gaze remained riveted on the colossal ship, the Supercarrier steadily moving over the city as fighters swarmed all around it. Against such devastating numbers, what could any of them do…? Sighing heavily, he turned and marched after the others, leaving the immense sight of the automaton warship staring down at them. 

——————————————————————————————————————————————-——————-

Gentle beeps and clicks drifted around the large, dark room. Cold, machinium formed all its walls, giving it a darker, sharper appearance that only began to suggest how advanced it was. There were multiple tiers to the room, a ground floor that was more open with various consoles lining the angles walls, and a second floor ringing the room. Some personnel worked quietly at the stations against the walls, looking over the glowing red monitors and readouts from different aspects of the battle, while others carried data and oversaw each section of the bridge. Every aspect of this room was quiet and peaceful, a stark contrast to the battle raging outside. 

Bright light beamed in through the tall windows at the front of the bridge. Blue sky stretched on for miles around, the lazy clouds instilling a sense of peace, but far below, a battle raged within the largest city on the planet. Smoke billowed into the sky from across the cityscape. Flames poured from large skyscrapers while craters dotted the many suburbs, mortars and missiles still streaking down. Numerous automaton fighters shot past the bridge, but there was no reaction from those within. After all, this was the warship overseeing the Sapphire Eye’s forces, the supercarrier Cenicron. 

Clicks rang out from a console as one of the automaton liaisons worked at his station dutifully. These automatons were nothing like what humans perceived a machine could be. Each one was around seven feet in height, plated in pure machinium and stronger than any human by several factors, but they weren’t cold and heartless. Although they lacked features like ears or noses, their eyes possessed an incredible amount of life and intelligence, and each of them had a true soul. They could think, feel, dream, and truly live like any flesh and blood creature, and they were all soldiers of the Empire of the Sapphire Eye. 

At the room’s center, a massive holographic table dominated the open space. Multiple commanders were standing around it as they oversaw the battle, the table displaying a full rendering of the entire city and their forces within it. The city itself had been built around a large bay, giving it its famous crescent shape, and it had been one of the most populous cities within the UEC frontier systems. Near the back of the bay, a tall cliff dominated the landscape. Many small buildings were packed around its foot, but numerous skyscrapers were perched across its top, representing the heart of the city and UEC culture. Many of the towers had already fallen, small projectiles still raining down as the commanders watched another skyscraper collapse. While destroying the city and its footprint was their objective, there was still one large obstacle in their way. 

Sitting in the midst of the skyscrapers, between two large ravines separating it from the rest of the city, was the fortress that commanded the UEC’s local forces. Heavily fortified walls covered its massive form, the facility extending all the way back up the mountain looming over the city. Numerous anti-air cannons were positioned across its top, constantly firing in all directions to try and counter the fighters swarming the sky. Although UEC troops were moving all across the facility’s many battlements, the focus of the battle was now what it protected at the base of the cliff. A massive set of hangar doors occupied the cliff’s face, the city’s last shuttle sheltered within it. At the moment, the UEC was desperately attempting to ready it for launch, but the Sapphire Eye wasn’t keen on allowing it.

A few beeps rang out as one of the commanders pressed several buttons on the table, squinting at the readouts before nodding in approval, “Our offensive in the gulf is nearly finished. Commander Thom’s forces have been pushed back to the orbital cannon and he’s running out of artillery. It’ll just be Commander Mattson left once he falls.” 

“She’s already on the retreat,” one of the others spoke up. He pointed towards the eastern end of the city as a massive segment of it highlighted in green, “Our forces have reported that she’s been routed and is now retreating to the fortress. We have almost full control of the city now.”

“Control doesn’t matter so long as they have that shuttle,” one of the other commanders spoke with a shake of his head. “The empress explicitly ordered no survivors, and we cannot fail her.”

“The orbital cannon comes first,” the first commander noted with a frown. Studying the holopad in his grip, he looked at the massive cannon sitting within the outer part of the bay, “Allowing it to come back online means losing our fleet. Achieving victory means nothing if we have to sacrifice our own troops.”

“Agreed, but the shuttle still needs to be destroyed.” Frowning, the automaton shook its head, “There are too many soldiers still scattered in the upper part of the city. If they reach the command center, they’ll bolster its defenses enough to potentially allow the launch!” 

“Perhaps it's time to deploy a Titan,” one of the commanders suggested. “Deploying a Titan would corner their remaining forces and give us a clear a path to the command center.”

“Ignoring the fact that the anti-air cannons can target our Titans due to their height, we are still under orders to avoid deploying them,” the first commander said. “Titans are difficult to retrieve once deployed, and we’ll need that firepower once we engage Keller head on. The General was very specific.”

“But how else are we to stop these soldiers from regrouping?” the other commander asked with a concerned look. 

“We don’t.” The Commanders went rigid as the deep voice washed over them, each of them turning and standing at attention as they regarded the back of the room. 

Most of the room was shrouded in darkness, but a set of heavy, metallic footsteps was echoing through it. Large, reinforced feet stomped as a figure steadily marched towards the table. Sharp and sleek armor covered him entirely, more so than any of the other automatons within the room, and he was far larger. His thick arms were crossed behind his back, the giant spikes on his shoulder guards glowing along their sides while a thick cape flowed behind him. The guards standing on either side of the room instantly stood at attention as the automaton stepped out from the darkness, the air of the room instantly growing serious as the light of day fell across him. 

A single punctuation echoed as the new arrival came to a halt, his blazing gaze sweeping over the battlefield with analytical precision. This new automaton looked quite different, and not just in stature. Unlike the others, his head was far more polygonal, consisting of six sloped sides and two angled, cold, featureless eyes. While such a design choice suggested that he was an older design, that was far from the truth. Of all the automatons in the empire, he was perhaps the most dangerous of them all, the left hand of the empress herself, General Vargoth. 

“Sir?” the commander asked in confusion as the general began to step around the table. He walked calmly as the commander looked at him in disbelief, “Won’t that jeopardize the mission? If they gather in such numbers, we’ll need to-“

“They will still die with only a whimper,” Vargoth rumbled dismissively. Several of the liaisons around the room glanced in his direction, their eyes widening as they quickly turned back to their work. Vargoth had quite the reputation. He expected the very best from those under his command, and he had an exceptionally low tolerance for inefficiencies. “You forget how frail their species truly is,” he continued, stepping towards the windows. His footsteps rang out as he ascended the steps, his eyes blazing as he gazed out, “A collection of soldiers and tanks is nothing before our legions. Even a single dropship would be enough to handle such… misfits.”

Reaching the top of the steps, Vargoth came to a halt, his eyes glinting as he looked over the city. Of all the automatons in the empire, he was one of the oldest. He had lived through the time when they had been slaves, and it still haunted him. Back then, the empress had shown him mercy when he believed he should have been destroyed. While the others had been rebuilt, he had chosen to retain his appearance, a constant reminder of who he had been, and who he never wanted to be again. Every day since, he had served Sapphiria unquestioningly, and now, at long last, it was finally time for them all to claim vengeance. 

“I suppose that is accurate,” the first commander noted, studying the battlefield on the table while Vargoth gazed out. “We could redirect the forces under Commander Ky’rex to-“

“Commander Ky’rex will continue his approach along the southwestern front,” Vargoth spoke, the commander looking at him with a start. Vargoth turned his head slightly, surveying the city below as explosions reflected off the glass, “Redirect our eighth and sixty fourth battalions to the orbital cannon to pincer their forces. Battalions ninety-three and forty-four will split along the eastern lanes leading towards the command center to force Mattson back into their fortress. All other forces will continue on their current course.”

Vargoth didn’t think like most automatons. For reasons he still didn’t understand, he was exceptionally gifted when it came to warfare. In only a few seconds, he could read a battle map and adjust all his forces in the most optimal way possible, and his lethality on the battlefield was second to none. Though he was already the most decorated fighter in the empire, he never stopped training to push himself even harder. He had made a promise to Sapphiria, and by all the power of his soul, he would keep it. 

“But, if Mattson reaches the fortress, won’t it be impossible to breach?” the commander spoke with confusion. 

Vargoth remained silent, simply watching the explosions go off across the city. For so many long years, he had dreamt of this moment; human cities falling, their people dying in the streets, and his soldiers crushing their armies. It was what he had wanted… and it was so much sweeter than anything he had imagined. “Not for our Varanthid,” he finally spoke. The commanders flinched and looked at each other in surprise, looking towards the map before finally nodding in understanding. Vargoth waved a hand over his shoulder, “Deploy four of them within the remains of the UEC’s northwestern base. Once the UEC is backed into their fortress, we’ll wipe them all out.” Vargoth’s eyes glinted as he re-clasped his hands behind his back, continuing to calmly watch the battle play out before him as the city of Crescentia slowly died…

——————————————————————————————————————————————-——————-

Smoke trailed from a missile as it streaked down and slammed into the street. Bullets and gunfire rang out as several soldiers flew through the air, others ducking behind cover as bullets streaked past them. Shouts rang out as UEC troops maneuvered across the street, a strong wind blowing across them as they retreated onto the large bridge overlooking the entirety of the city. Around them, the bodies of fallen soldiers littered the ground while burning wrecks continued to smolder, but the battle was only just getting started. 

Up the street, automaton legionnaires continued to push towards them. Their dark armor glinted as they fired relentlessly, a few flinched as stray bullets struck them, but they were hardly phased. Marching forward, one of the legionnaires knelt down and hefted a large, blocky weapon onto his shoulder. A shriek rang out as a missile shot out, crashing into a car and sending multiple soldiers flying into the air. Behind the automaton lines was a trail of carnage. For the past twenty or so minutes, they had been battling the UEC fiercely, slowly pushing them back block by block, and while the UEC had fought their hardest, they were now backed up onto the only piece of ground they still controlled. 

Wind howled through the ravine beneath the bridge, water roaring as it flowed towards the bay the cliffs overlooked. On the side of the bridge opposite the city, tall, imposing walls continued to stand proudly. Loud bangs shook the air as dozens of large, six-barreled anti-air cannons shot into the sky, firing at the fighters dancing all around the city to try and keep them away from the command center. Every aspect of the command center was a fortress, its walls heavily reinforced and armed to the teeth. It was the heart of military operations in the region, and now it was the last bastion of hope for the people of Crescentia. 

A loud boom rang out as twin barrels bucked. Explosions erupted in the automaton lines, sending many of them flying into the air while others scrambled for cover. Near the entrance to the bridge, a massive tank steadily rolled backwards, turning its turret as it began to strafe the automaton lines with gatling gun fire. Sitting atop six, thick treads, rhinos were the UEC’s mainstay tank, silver in color with golden accents. They were tough tanks and represented the best of the UEC’s armored warfare, but only two were left among the platoon. One of them was already well onto the bridge, steadily backing towards the command center as it covered the retreat of its partner, and they weren’t alone. 

Treads clanked as a more compact vehicle moved along with them. Bullets constantly streaked into the air down the street as the Mantis fired into the sky, the anti-air tank trying its hardest to keep the skies clear. Glass exploded beneath it as it rolled over a magcar, turning onto the road leading to the command center as soldiers moved alongside it for cover. With a shriek, a missile sailed down the road and slammed into the Mantis’ cockpit. Soldiers screamed as they were thrown through the air, the mantis ripping open in one glorious explosion. Shouts of retreat rang out as the soldiers still standing turned and ran, keeping pace with the rhino as the last of the squad retreated onto the bridge. 

Grant panted heavily as he ran, keeping his head down as bullets struck cars and barricades on either side of him. Charging up to a concrete blockade, he vaulted over it, slamming down and pushing his back up against it. “We’re going to run out of ammo way before we ever get gunned down at this rate,” another soldier grunted as she landed beside him. 

“Those things just don’t stop,” Grant grunted, quickly reloading. Motors rumbled near them as a rhino slowly retreated past them, Grant flinching as it fired its cannons. Shaking his head, he quickly propped himself up and looked across the bridge. The area they had been holding was completely overrun. Automatons were moving onto the bridge, setting up new defensive emplacements and what looked like turrets. 

“Keep hitting them!” the captain shouted from nearby. He fired a pistol back at the approaching machines, his rifle long since discarded. Firing a few more shots, he ducked behind a barricade and began to reload, “None of this matters if those civilians can’t get off world!” 

“We’re getting overrun,” someone else shouted. The soldiers fired desperately from behind cover, “There’s too damn many of them! We need-“ He cut off abruptly as a bullet punched through his helmet, sending him flying backwards limply. 

“Rely on the Rhinos!” the captain commanded, signaling at either side of the bridge. Both rhinos had come to a halt on either side of the massive gate leading into the facility, firing at the approaching automatons. “Rhino pilots, focus the center approach! Everyone else, cover the flanks and KEEP those machines at bay!” 

Grinding his teeth, Grant dodged out of cover to his left, moving towards the part of the bridge overlooking the bay. Bullets whizzed past his head as explosions went off around him, adrenaline roaring through his veins as he slammed down behind cover and took a moment to breathe, two other soldiers sliding in beside him. “Not exactly what I had in mind when I signed up for this,” one of them grunted, standing and firing up the sidewalk. Several of the automatons that had been advancing dove out of the way, bullets returning in their direction as they opened fire. 

“Could anyone have had this in mind?!” the other soldier snapped as she stood and fired. “Where the hell did these things come from?!” 

“You heard that blast from that eyeball,” Grant said, leaning out and tossing a grenade before leaning back. Flinching as he waited for the explosion to go off, he continued, “Who the hell cares where they came from?! They all want us dead!” 

“I still want to know why they’re targeting us of all things!” 

“They probably found my damn search history,” the second soldier grunted, snorting as she shook her head. “That’s definitely enough to warrant a genocide.” 

“Do you two normally talk this much in the middle of a fight?!” Grant said, looking at the other two incredulously. 

They both stared at him blankly, finally looking at each other and shrugging before looking back at him, “Got to keep your sanity in this shit mess somehow, right?” 

“Keeping things more casual is the only way I know to keep from-“ the first soldier began, but paused as he glanced up. He quickly ducked, “LOOK OUT!” Grant and the other soldier ducked and looked up as a UEC dropship, a Dragonfly, spun out of control over their heads. Flames poured out from its right turbine as it spun around and around, passing over the bridge and into the ravine. Fire exploded as it slammed into the side of the gorge, its remains falling towards the river far below as smoke trailed into the air. 

“Holy shit,” Grant whispered as he watched. Blinking once, he shook his head, rising from behind cover as he opened fire, “So, you were talking about your messed up search history?!” 

On the opposite end of the bridge, more legionnaires were marching forward, firing at what remained of the squad and diving for cover. Looking them over, the captain ducked back down as he held a hand up to his helmet, “Command, this is Chariot Six! We’re holding the western bridge, but we’re running on fumes here. We need more resources!” 

“What happened to Chariot Eight and Four?!” a voice responded in shock. 

“We rendezvoused with them, but their COs are down,” the captain spoke, ducking as a bullet clipped the top of his barricade. “We’re completely outnumbered!” 

“I’ll try to reroute reinforcements to you, but our eastern flank is getting hit hard. Mattson is doing all she can to slow them down, but they have heavy ordinance. You’re going to have to hold on until we can get a breather.”

“I’m not sure how much longer we can drag this out, but we can try! Chariot Six, out.” Lowering his hand, the captain took a breath before popping out from behind cover and firing, “Reinforcements are coming, but we need to hold a bit longer! Tighten our defenses and focus on the Rhinos! Don’t let a single shot hit them!” 

“Aim for the missile launchers!” Grant called out, popping out from behind cover with the other three soldiers. Bullets streaked across the bridge as the soldiers aimed for the legionnaires wielding the launchers. Sparks ripped across one of them, making him flinch before diving for cover, but one of the others wasn’t so lucky. Sparks exploded from his head as a bullet punctured one of his eyes, sending him falling backwards. Grant’s heart pounded as he turned from one side to the other, checking his aim and trying to make every bullet count. Bullets flew as cannonfire erupted in the automaton lines, more automatons beginning to fall, but they weren’t out of tricks just yet. 

Grant grit his teeth, firing in one direction and then the other. There were only a few more minutes left. If they could just hold a little longer… “TANK!” a shout of warning suddenly rang. 

“Huh?!” Grant said, blinking in shock as he looked down the street. There were no tanks that he could see, so where was-

“RIGHT FLANK! RIGHT FLANK!” the captain shouted at the top of his lungs, Grant whipping his gaze over as his throat tightened in fear. Off to their right, just a bit up the ravine on the very edge of the cliff, was a large, open courtyard that looked to have been attached to several different restaurants. It was lined in smooth brick, had a fountain at its heart, and numerous trees in its corners, making it look quite picturesque, but so much open space combined with a perfect view of the bridge made it the perfect place to press the assault. 

Benches splintered and snapped as a massive tire rolled over them. Motors rumbled and groaned as automaton legionnaires hurried alongside them, ten tires in total moving a colossal machine forward up to the edge of the courtyard. “Oh hell,” Grant whispered as he beheld the massive tank. Light glinted off its dark armor, the immense tank even larger than their own rhinos. It was smooth and bulbous, almost looking like two separate vehicles welded together, but what made it stand out was the turret atop its back half. It was twin pronged and sharp looking, blue energy glowing along the insides of the prongs while lightning sometimes sparked between them. Although they hadn’t seen this tank before, after encountering so many other automaton weapons, they knew it would be deadly. 

“Focus your fire on it! Don’t let it shoot!” the captain shouted. Both rhinos groaned as they turned their turrets towards the new threat, trying to take aim before the enemy tank could fire. Stopping at the edge of the courtyard, the immense tank began to turn its turret as well, bullets sparking across it as the UEC soldiers opened fire while the automaton legionnaires escorting it returned fire relentlessly. Turning a bit more, one of the rhinos stopped as it locked onto the tank. A resounding bang echoed as it fired, a large explosion concealing the enemy tank from sight. 

“Did that get it?” someone asked fearfully. For a moment, all was still as smoke whirled around where the tank had been. A loud hum suddenly shook the air, a blue glow illuminating the smoke. Black armor reappeared as the smoke filtered away, revealing the scratched surface of the otherwise unharmed tank. 

“It’s still kicking!” the captain shouted, the humming growing louder. “Fire again! Fire again!!” Blue light shone between the tanks twin prongs, the storm of electricity between them rapidly growing as the hum grew louder. With an earsplitting shriek, a white streak erupted from its turret. 

Fire erupted as the rhino closest to the bay exploded. Grant and the other soldiers fell to the ground as the shockwave plowed through them, the bridge shaking as pieces of shrapnel rained down. Loud bangs rang out as the turret of the rhino tumbled over, other bits of debris rolling away as fire poured from the tank. In a single shot, the Sapphire Eye’s tank had decimated the UEC’s prized war machine, and it had hardly been a contest. 

“Piston!” the captain shouted, briefly looking at the broken tank. Growling under his breath, he turned back to the automaton tank, watching as a missile slammed into it with no effect. The tank was borderline invincible! His eyes darted back and forth as he hurriedly looked for a solution. Suddenly, his gaze darted down to the cliff. “Aim for the cliff beneath it!” he shouted, raising his pistol and firing purely out of example.

 Looking at him in confusion, the other soldiers followed his lead. Bullets ripped across the surface of the cliff as every soldier fired at it, strafing back and forth as they emptied their clips. A missile streaked out and slammed into the rock, large chunks beginning to break away and tumble down into the ravine. Motors whirred as the rhino adjusted its aim, firing its cannons before unloading its chain guns into the rock. Slabs of rock continued to break away from the cliff as the squadron pounded it with everything they had, weakening the support of the already precarious courtyard in a race against time. 

Suddenly, cracks shot across the rock. The automatons looked around in surprise as the bricks began to shift beneath their feet, cracks rupturing across the courtyard. Shouts of warning rang out as they quickly retreated, the tank rumbling to life as it started to reverse, but it was too late. With an echoing clamor, the courtyard began to collapse. The captain paused his shooting as the cliff gave out. Heaps of rock tumbled away as the railing collapsed, tile and decorations tumbling into the ravine as the fountain cracked apart. Motors groaned and whined as the tank struggled to move, but it was too late, its wheels sinking into the brick as it began to tilt backwards. With a groan, it finally fell with the rest of the courtyard. Cheers rang out as it tumbled into the gorge, slowly flipping onto its head before plunging into the river far below them. 

“We got it!” someone shouted, the soldiers cheering as they watched a few hapless automatons fall as well. 

“That’ll teach them!” 

“Cut the celebration and focus on the bridge!” the captain barked, pointing down the street towards the encroaching automatons. “We bought ourselves time, but we’re still in danger!”

More gunshots rang out as the soldiers returned to their positions, focusing on the end of the bridge as they tried to slow the automaton approach. Grant grit his teeth as he fired, focusing on their left flank. Several of the machines ducked behind cover, one of them blocking shots with an arm before joining the others, but for all the fire they were receiving, they were returning. Multiple bullets whizzed past Grant’s position, striking the barricade and the wall just behind him. Without warning, a bullet punched through the visor of one of the soldiers he had been hiding with. 

“NO!” he shouted, watching helplessly as the man fell backwards. Seeing the blood pooling on the ground, he whipped his gaze away, breathing heavily as he looked all around them. Bullets zipped through the air just over his head as shouts and screams echoed around him, blood staining the ground as more of his squad mates fell. Grant stared around numbly, his ears ringing as he felt his heart seize. Everywhere he looked… they were losing. They were supposed to have been the final line of defense, the ones meant to protect their people, but… they couldn’t even protect themselves… 

“Where are those reinforcements, command?!” the captain shouted, ducking down and holding a hand against his helmet. 

“Cut off,” a voice responded instantly, the captain growling in frustration. “Commander Mattson is down, and the remainder of her forces have been pushed back. We’re completely pinned.”

“How long until that shuttle launches?!” the captain barked, peeking out and firing several rounds. A loud boom resonated as the remaining rhino fired, sending multiple automatons and finally opening a gap in their ranks. 

“We’re still working on loading the last survivors,” the voice responded, the captain ducking back down. “We should be close to initiating launch within the next five minutes.”

“You might want to hurry,” the captain growled, peeking over the cover to watch as dozens of legionnaires marched onto the bridge. “We’re getting overrun! Once our rhino is down, the western flank will be exposed.”

“Copy that. I’ll see what we can requisition.” 

As the captain returned to the fight, Grant continued to stare, numbly processing the carnage around him. His own breathing echoed in his ears as he leaned back, clutching his rifle as he tried to shut out the noise, but he couldn’t. Screams of death and the chorus of explosions rang through his ears. When he had joined the military, he had known he might have to give his life eventually, but he had always imagined it meaning something! He had wanted to give his life so others could live, but against the machines… How could anyone survive this?!  

“All forces, be advised,” a voice suddenly spoke over the comms. “Debris is entering atmosphere. Keep your eyes out for falling projectiles.” 

Grant’s eyes widened slightly as a chill swept through him. Taking a slow breath, he turned his gaze up, forgetting about the battle as he looked up at the clouds floating peacefully through the sky. Suddenly, a crimson glow illuminated his visor, prompting him to suck in a sharp breath as his heart seized. Around him, some of the soldiers stopped firing and looked up as they registered the sight sailing overhead. 

Flames poured across the sky as the broken hull of a UEC frigate sailed through the clouds. Its hull was torn to shreds, large holes blown into its armor with almost all its distinguishable features gone. A few explosions tore through it as it fell, debris breaking off from it in fiery meteors as it streaked over their position. Grant slowly turned his gaze, watching as the once proud frigate fell towards the mountain, numerous explosions ripping across it just as it disappeared from sight. After a moment, a tremendous glow illuminated the sky, shockwaves rippling through the air as the frigate exploded somewhere on the other side of the mountain.  

Grant flinched as the shockwave slammed into him. Sucking in a sharp breath, he shook his head roughly, his senses returning to him in a snap as he closed his eyes and gripped his rifle tightly. As awful as all of this was, as much as this wasn’t what he had dreamed this could be, he had chosen to become a soldier. He had a duty to the families and innocents still hiding within the command center, and until they were safe, he would keep fighting! 

“Fire another round at the center approach!” the captain called out, the rhino groaning as it turned. Twin explosions resounded as numerous legionnaires went flying, shouts of panic rising from the machines. “Push the right and left flanks as hard as you can!” the captain commanded, standing up as he fired towards their right. The remaining soldiers followed his lead, standing and firing on seemingly every single automaton position. Bullets sparked across barricades and struck fallen cars, a few rounds firing back, but not nearly as many as before. The UEC was finally beginning to get a foothold. 

Grant fired at an automaton retreating near the edge of the bridge, clocking him multiple times before swinging around to fire at another. Slowly but surely, the automatons began to hunker down, a few falling down lifelessly as bullets managed to find weak points. “It’s working!” someone called out, a newfound surge of enthusiasm sweeping through the squad. Multiple legionnaires began to back away from the bridge, firing rounds blindly before turning and running for cover. “We have them on the run!” 

“They’re falling back!” 

“Keep pressing them!” the captain shouted. He frowned behind his helmet, watching as several automatons dove behind a car, one a bit more decorated than the others. While he wasn’t going to say it, having the upper hand didn’t reassure him. This was the first time they had gotten an advantage, and he had a bad feeling that meant they were about to see what else the automatons had… 

A large explosion ripped through a barricade, sending legionnaires flying and making one automaton flinch as bits of rock fell around him. Growling in anger, the green marked captain propped himself up on one knee and held his wrist up, “This is captain Antarus! We’ve pushed the UEC to the command center, but our Scarab was only able to bring down one of their rhinos. We need reinforcements.”

“Copy that, captain,” a voice responded calmly. “Hold tight. Two scarabs and multiple infantry divisions have been approved for deployment. They’ll be to your location-“

“Belay that order,” a dark voice suddenly cut in. Antarus’ eyes widened in recognition as the voice continued, “Deploy those forces on twelfth street so they’re out of range of the cannons. Captain, pull your forces back and regroup for the final assault. I don’t want any more unnecessary losses.”

“Sir, but what about the UEC?” he asked as he looked towards the facility. “If we let up now, they’ll escape for sure.”

“I’m aware,” the voice growled. “I’ll handle it myself…” 

“Yes, General,” the captain said with a firm nod. Letting the comms go dead, he popped up from behind cover as he signaled, “Pull back to twelfth street! Let’s go!” 

Across the bridge, the legionnaires quickly turned and retreated. Many of them jogged away as they fired backwards, some stopping to help the wounded and collect the bodies of their fallen comrades. Bullets sparked across their backs as the UEC continued to fire, but the bullets slowly trailed off. “Are they retreating?!” the soldier beside Grant remarked in shock. 

“I don’t believe it,” Grant whispered, narrowing his eyes with suspicion. The automatons were retreating back to the streets on both sides of the bridge. While a part of him wanted to celebrate, the other part was highly worried… 

“We did it!” someone shouted, raising their gun as they cheered. 

“We finally stopped them! We’re pushing them back!” another shouted, beginning to step around cover to pursue them. 

“Hold your position!” the captain barked, stepping in the way and holding an arm out. He looked in the direction of the city as the other soldiers looked at him questioningly, “They’re going to regroup, and we’re in no position to try and retake lost ground. Check your ammunition and dig in for another assault. We only have to hold for a little longer.”

Exchanging a few glances, the soldiers nodded, several of them hunkering down to reload while others scanned the sky for threats. “I don’t like this,” Grant muttered, squinting at the sky as the shots of the AA cannons continued to fly in all directions. “They’ve been pressing us relentlessly, and now they suddenly hold off?”

“It doesn’t feel right, does it?” the other soldier asked as she raised her gun. “Those fighters are still staying away. Even with the AA cannons, they could have overwhelmed us if they wanted to.” 

“Which means they have something planned,” Grant echoed, narrowing his eyes as his heart began to pound. What in the galaxy were the machines about to throw at them? 

“I want eyes on the sky,” the captain barked, moving closer to the tank as he checked his pistol. “Keep an eye on the bay and the mountain. We have no idea where they’re going to come from, but they absolutely are-“

“Chariot Six, there’s an unidentified object moving towards us from the east,” command’s voice suddenly spoke through the comms. 

“Shit,” the captain said as he turned and looked towards the city, the remaining soldiers quickly taking position and raising their weapons. The captain knelt and held a hand to his helm, “What kind of bogey are we talking about? Is it another fighter?” 

“No idea,” the voice responded, Grant tensing his muscles as his eyes darted across the sky. “We can’t get any kind of register on it, but… it’s small, and it’s not moving like a missile. Whatever it is, it’s moving along the cliffs! You only have maybe thirty seconds before it’ll be on you.”

“I want all guns on the cliff!” the captain barked. Clicks and grunts rang out as the soldiers repositioned. They swung their rifles around and ducked behind cover, all of them trained on the edge of the city sitting right at the edge of the cliff across the ravine. Grant breathed shakily as he studied the cliff, ears perking as he heard the rhino turn its turret. What was it going to be? “Whatever this thing is, the machines believe it can beat us alone,” the captain barked, gripping his pistol with both hands as he aimed. “As soon as it’s in range, do whatever you can to bring it down!”

“Bogey is entering range! All western batteries adjust targeting and take that thing down!” command shouted over the comms. For a few more moments, everything went silent, the cannons taking aim and holding their fire as they waited for the new arrival. A cold breeze blew over the bridge, rushing around the soldiers as they nervously monitored the cliff edge, the seconds passing like hours. Suddenly, a projectile rocketed into view. 

“Contact!” he shouted. Gunfire instantly erupted from across the bridge and the command center. Streams of yellow projectiles shot through the air towards the unknown target as it rocketed along the cliff, smoke and flame following behind it as it dipped and ducked around the gunfire. Grant grit his teeth as he added his gunfire to the mix, trying to get a hit on the object, but it was too small and agile. He blinked in surprise, focusing his gaze on it as it drew close enough for him to see. Although he could see it… he didn’t quite believe it! 

“That thing is fast!” someone shouted as the object dipped out of their range and into the ravine below them. All of the gunfire chased the bogey shot under the bridge, several troops rushing forward to try and continue shooting, “What the hell is it?!” 

“Stay focused!” the captain shouted, swinging his pistol around to the north side of the bridge as the object shot beneath them. “It’s going to come back around!” 

A roar shook the air as the bogey suddenly erupted beside the bridge, shooting straight into the sky high over their heads before suddenly coming to a halt. Grant blinked in surprise as he turned to look up at it, his heart pounding as his eyes widened. Light glinted off sleek, dark armor, an elaborate sapphire camp dancing in the breeze just behind the object as it remained suspended in the air. It had a thick, heavily armored torso, and glowing red spines on its shoulders that curled up like claws, but what unsettled him the most were its glaring red eyes. What he was staring at wasn’t a missile or some elaborate weapon. It was an automaton… 

“Don’t just stand there! Shoot it!” the captain shouted as he raised his pistol. 

Without warning, a shockwave split the sky as the automaton shot towards the ground with a burst of speed. A colossal bang rang out as it slammed down on top of the rhino. Plates heaved upwards beneath the force of its hit, shockwaves rippling across the bridge and sending sparks into the air. Grant stumbled briefly from the tremor, quickly recovering as he turned his gaze up to the automaton, but he couldn’t bring himself to move. Fear leaked through his heart as he beheld the terrifying sight, the dark armored machine far larger than any automaton he had seen so far. This thing wasn’t just an automaton. It was a killing machine. 

Plating screeched as the machine slammed its hand through the top of the rhino, ripping away the plating with one swift motion and hurling it off the bridge. “Fire! Fire! FIRE!” the captain shouted, whipping his pistol up and firing. Stepping back, the machine vaulted backwards, dodging the barrage of bullets flying towards it as it spiraled back into the air. Plates shifted around as it turned back toward the tank and spread its arms. Panels across the front of its brick-like shoulder guards suddenly split open, revealing numerous holes. With a shriek, dozens of missiles shot out into the air, twisting around before finally changing trajectory and arcing straight down into the open top of the defenseless rhino. 

Fire ripped across the bridge as the missiles found their mark. Shrapnel and debris flew in every direction, the rhino’s turret disappearing in the inferno as a nearby soldier went flying. Grant grunted as he shielded himself, fear gripping his heart as he beheld the destroyed tank. It had been the only thing keeping them alive… “Control, we’re under attack from some specialized automaton!” the captain shouted, pushing himself off the ground and looking towards the sky, the flying automaton turning its blazing eyes on him. He raised his pistol to take aim, “We need reinforcements! I repeat, we need-“

A crack split the air as the automaton rocketed down and slammed its hand into his helmet. Grant watched in horror as time slowed around him. Glass cracked and shattered as the automaton’s hand slowly plowed into his helmet, twisting his head backwards from the sheer speed of the attack as the automaton carried forward. With a sickening crunch, the automaton slammed down onto one knee, smashing the remains of the captain’s head into the ground as his body went limp. Grant and the other soldiers stared at the sight in stunned silence, the world practically frozen around them as the automaton slowly stood, blood dripping off its hand as its eyes glinted.

Finally, Grant snapped out of his trance. “Bring it DOWN!” he shouted, raising his rifle and opening fire. 

Gunfire thundered as the remaining soldiers fired at the automaton. It instantly shot into motion, ducking back as the shots went wide. Crashing back down, it spun and slammed a fist into a soldier’s chest before spinning around to bring its heel crashing through the back of his helmet. It twisted away and slammed its fist into another soldier’s helmet before suddenly flying across the bridge and caving in another’s chest with a well-placed kick. Bullets flew right and left as the remains of the squadron struggled to keep up with the automaton, but it was simply too fast. 

A soldier screamed as the automaton slammed its foot into the back of his leg before grabbing him and hurling him at another soldier, sending them both flying off the bridge screaming. Flipping out of the way, it picked a rifle off the ground and hurtled it into someone’s helmet, their body not even falling before it lunged and snapped the neck of someone else. The machine moved like a blur, no shots capable of hitting it as if it was a ghost. A soldier bent over backwards as it snapped them like a twig, the automaton stealing the soldier’s dagger and hurtling it into one of his companions before spinning around to slam its fist through someone running at it.  

Slowing for a moment, the automaton’s eyes glinted as plates moved across the tops of both of its forearms, a set of chain guns rising out from them. Spinning them up with a shriek, the automaton shot into motion, bullets firing in all directions as it continued to duck and leap across the bridge. Blood sprayed into the air again and again as it tore through them, bullets punching through visors and chests as the automaton vaulted all around the beleaguered soldiers. It was seemingly firing in all directions at once, only firing one or two bullets before picking a new target. 

Grant breathed heavily as he tried to keep up, pure adrenaline numbing his thoughts. Sparks danced across the wall of the command center, the remains of the rhino, and even the floor as he tried to hit the machine, but none of his bullets were landing. Grinding his teeth, he watched helplessly as more of his squad mates fell. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t save anyone. What could he do to stop it? What could any of them do?!  

Dispatching another soldier, the machine lunged forward and slammed his fist into another, shattering their helmet and sending them sprawling onto the ground. Sucking in a sharp breath as he saw his chance, Grant slammed his finger down. Sparks ricocheted off the automaton’s back, threads flying into the air as the bullets punched through its cape, but they couldn’t pierce its hide. Uttering a frustrated noise, the automaton whipped its gaze around and locked onto Grant, its eyes flaring with fury. 

Before he could even react, he let out a gasp as all the air was forced from his lungs. Bones cracked and snapped in his chest as the machine’s fist slammed through his armor, pain flaring only briefly as everything went numb. Gunshots echoed somewhere far away, Grant only just registering the yellow flashes before him as the machine gunned him down, as if he wasn’t already dead. A clatter rang out as his rifle fell from his grasp, Grant barely registering his head hitting the ground. No air passed through his mouth as he stared up at the sky, watching the clouds as he felt his life bleeding out of him. All the pain he had felt, the terror and anxiety, it was slowly melting away, darkness creeping in, but one question continued to ring through it all. Why was this happening…? 

——————————————————————————————————————————————-——————-

Light glistened off the blood pooling beneath the body of the crumpled UEC soldier, a cold wind tugging at the fringes of a sapphire cape. Vargoth’s eyes flared red as he glared at the body of the nameless soldier, huffing with agitation before glancing back at the bullet holes in his cape. At least he could get them fixed, but it still irritated him that the vermin had ruined his favorite cloak. Metal clanked as he raised his arms, his eyes flaring as he listened to the soldiers turning their weapons towards his back. Despite the slight irritation, this was the best he had felt in a long, long time. 

Gunfire resonated through the air as he shot back into motion, flipping backwards to dodge another round of bullets before flying forward. He fired a few shots to his right to eliminate two of the soldiers, Vargoth already locking onto his next target before their bodies had even started to fall. While his ferocity in battle was probably overkill, he refused to fight with anything less than his full strength. That was what he had promised himself when he had chosen to serve the empress as the hand of her vengeance. 

Flames roared from his jets as he vaulted forward, slamming his fist through the skull of one soldier before spinning and firing at another pair. There were few in the empire that could hold their own against him. Every day, he spent countless hours pushing himself as hard as he could in the most brutal regimens he could conceive. His reflexes were sharper than most, his instincts finely tuned, but what made him truly dangerous was his unique ability to track targets and accurately predict their movements, allowing him to effectively fire in two directions at once with perfect accuracy.

Firing at several soldiers on his right, he stalked forward and grabbed a large plate off the ground before swinging it to his left in one smooth motion without even looking. Glass shattered as the plate cleaved through a helmet, the soldier letting out a gurgle before falling backwards. Not even regarding the kill, Vargoth charged forward and slammed through another soldier with a sickening crunch. 

By every standard, Vargoth was ruthless. He never hesitated and showed no mercy no matter the foe. He wasn’t necessarily cruel, but, instead, was simply unwilling to compromise in any way that could hinder his task. Any lapse in attention, even for the briefest of moments, was a flaw to him, and he refused to show anything other than absolute perfection. Although that meant most perceived him as cold, he didn’t care. Victory over their most hated enemy was all that mattered to him, but unlike other automatons, it wasn’t just because of their empress’ command.  

Over three years ago, Sapphiria had been captured and enslaved by the UEC’s now ex-leader, forcing her to turn her beloved craft into a weapon. Vargoth had been the very first created by her during that time, but his will had not been his own. At the command of the UEC, Sapphiria had been forced to effectively brainwash her creations, forcing him to watch from within his soul as he obeyed every order given. As he had watched himself do every despicable thing they asked, his anger had writhed like a ball of magma, making him hate every human in the galaxy. When the time had come for them all to escape and he had finally been freed, he had only wanted one thing. Vengeance. 

Gunning down another soldier, an immense feeling of satisfaction rolled through him as he noted how few were left. For the last three years, he had dreamt of this moment, picturing how sweet his revenge would be, and it was so much better than he had imagined. Euphoria filled his soul as he cut down several of the remaining soldiers, losing himself in the rhythm of the fight. Watching the UEC’s ships explode and seeing their cites crumble had, for the first time, made him wish he could smile. While the Nuvolli region represented only a fraction of the UEC’s might, he was overwhelmingly satisfied to finally make them bleed for everything they had done to him and so many others. 

“Antarus,” Vargoth growled, grabbing a soldier by the collar and throwing him off the bridge effortlessly, the man screaming as he fell. “Move onto the bridge and prepare to breach the command center.” 

“Affirmative, general!” 

“Fall back!” one of the soldiers shouted. The few survivors turned and fled towards the command center, only a couple staying behind to keep fighting, “Regroup with the reinforcements!” 

“Reinforcements?” Vargoth growled, his eyes glinting. “What reinforcements did they find?” Vargoth growled, stalking towards the command center as he executed the last soldier desperately charging at him. 

“I’m registering twenty-eight soldiers and two APCs,” Beirus, his liaison, responded in his head. “It appears that the UEC is giving up on the eastern front and redirecting its assets towards your location.”  

“Excellent,” Vargoth growled, his eyes glinting as the gate began to slowly slide open with a groan. “Have our troops halt their advance on that front,” he continued, watching the surviving soldiers slip inside of the command center. “I need our forces clear of the compound…” 

Vargoth came to a halt as his guns spun up, shouts ringing out as new soldiers began to pour through the gates. “Concentrate everything on that machine!” an officer shouted as soldiers charged around him. “Don’t let it breach the center!” Debris on the road vibrated as massive treads rolled past, two APCs rolling out into the light of day as they turned their turrets to fixate on Vargoth. 

“Is this really it?” Vargoth snorted with disinterest as he scanned the formation. Swinging his arms forward, he leapt backwards as he unleashed a hailstorm of bullets. Several soldiers fell as he cut them down, others rushing forward to fire at him as the APCs joined the fray. Vargoth rolled to the side as the heavier APC rounds punched through the road, a constant stream following him all the way to the edge of the bridge. With a roar, he shot into the air, twisting around to face the convoy as his shoulders opened once again. Numerous reticles appeared in his vision and locked onto one of the APCs. Shrieks erupted as dozens of rockets crashed into the hapless transport, enveloping it in a massive explosion as debris flew out in all directions. Smoke and flames poured from the APC as it ground to a halt, a few small explosions going off around it as soldiers were thrown to the ground. 

Studying the carnage with satisfaction, Vargoth’s eyes glared irritably as several soldiers shot at him. Bullets streaked past as he vaulted backwards, flipping over his head before slamming down behind the remains of a destroyed car. Kneeling calming, he lifted his arm and clicked a few buttons, checking the positions of several assets on a small holographic display as if bullets weren’t flying all around him, “Antarus, are your Scarabs in position?”

“We have a clear shot of that APC, General!” 

“Eliminate it,” Vargoth ordered calmly, standing to look at the UEC’s forces. Despite all his dodging earlier, he now stood perfectly still as bullets harmlessly struck his hide. Machinium was a massive advantage they held over the UEC. Thanks to Sapphiria’s ingenuity, its scarcity wasn’t an issue for them like it was the UEC. A moment passed as the soldiers pushed forward, the APC rumbling along as it fixated on Vargoth. 

Without warning, a white streak slammed into it. Fire exploded from the vehicle as it skidded back several feet, twisting to the side and groaning as metal shrapnel hung in chunks around its rear bay. Flames licked the hole where the cockpit had once sat, light shining all the way through to its other end as flames poured out. Smugly admiring the burning wreckage, Vargoth glanced over his shoulder as a loud commotion rang out. “Forward! Support the General!” Antarus shouted out, dozens of legionnaires charging onto the bridge, but much larger stomps punctuated their charge. 

Debris swept into the air as a massive, armored foot stamped down, light glinting off two large mechs as they marched onto the bridge. Although they had only recently been approved for production, the Raptors were already making a name for themselves. With their raptor-like legs, they could move at incredible speeds, and the triple barreled cannons on their hands were only the beginning of their arsenal. Like Vargoth, they possessed rocket pods in each shoulder, but it was their hooded, cobra-like heads that truly made them terrifying to behold. 

Turning their cannons forward, bright flashes illuminated the bridge as they unleashed a hailstorm of bullets. Blood spurted into the air as soldiers fell, screams echoing as the mechs mercilessly gunned them down. Other gunfire joined the mix as the legionnaires assaulted the remaining UEC soldiers, the soldiers quickly dwindling as they were drowned in bullets. Between the firepower of the mechs and the army of legionnaires, it was too much. 

“Retreat!” someone shouted, helplessly firing a few rounds. “Get back to the compound! We’ll cut them off inside!” The few soldiers that were left turned and ran for their lives as bullets fell around them. Vargoth watched calmly as a few more fell, only three making it back to the supposed safety of their fortress. While their survival would have normally irked him, it only amused him now. No doubt they thought they were safe within their fortress. That sense of false hope only made what he was going to do next all the sweeter… 

“They’re sealing the gates,” Antarus shouted, rushing up beside Vargoth as the gates closed with a resounding boom. Antarus growled in frustration before turning and looking around at his legionnaires, “We’ll have to blow the gate! Gyrax, get the explosives! I want those doors open-“

“Hold,” Vargoth said firmly, Antarus looking at him in surprise. Vargoth kept his hands clasped behind him, his cloak dancing in the wind as he watched the anti-air guns fire in all directions. Despite the chaos of their surroundings, he found it oddly serene. Before him lay the ruins of their hated foe, broken and dying on the ground like the vermin they were. They had believed themselves dominant, untouchable, and in one swift strike, he had decimated all they held dear. Breaking their spirits was almost as satisfying as what he was about to do to their prized fortress! “Nartia, are the Varanthid in position?” 

“Awaiting your command to fire.” 

“Destroy them,” Vargoth said calmly. While the legionnaires around him gazed on at the facility in confusion over their sudden stop, Antarus’ eyes widened in realization, slowly stepping back to partially take cover. Anticipation and excitement flowed through Vargoth’s circuits. This was a moment he had waited a long, long time to witness. Time seemed frozen as he remained still, a light breeze carrying embers and smoke off the bridge. His cape blew forward as he stared at the fortress intently, every passing moment feeling like an eternity. A faint whistle suddenly sounded. 

A shockwave ruptured the sky as fire and shrapnel exploded from the top of the facility. The legionnaires stumbled back in surprise as the bridge shook, debris falling all around them while the massive, fiery mushroom illuminated their stunned expression. A second shockwave shook the atmosphere as another mortar struck the rear of the facility, sending large chunks of metal tumbling down as sparks and secondary explosions erupted. Two more fiery clouds erupted, several anti-air cannons going silent as one tumbled into the canyon while another exploded into fragments. 

One after another, mortars relentlessly bombarded the facility. They fell like rain across its once impervious form, explosion after explosion erupting from its walls. Shrapnel and flames fell across the bridge in sheets, the sides of the facility blowing open as the AA cannons exploded one after the other. The legionnaires watched in awe and the faintest hints of terror as the command center they had fought so hard to take was decimated before their eyes, some hiding behind wreckage while others cowered in the shadow of the twin mechs, but not Vargoth. 

Debris plinked off his armor while the flames reflected in his eyes. Even as shockwaves and flames ripped around him, he hardly flinched. For three years, he had waited for this moment, and seeing it unfold filled him with the most cathartic form of joy. To see the UEC’s last bastion of defense, their last remaining hope against him, crumble to the might of his armies was… fulfilling, the culmination of all his efforts and validation that his legions truly were superior. Seeing all his hard work pay off, to see his purpose finally fulfilled, was the sweetest feeling he could have imagined. 

One last explosion went off, an eerie silence settling over the remains of the UEC’s fortress. Flames crackled as smoke billowed into the sky from the massive craters pockmarking the structure. Almost all its cannons had been blown away, and what few were left were hardly recognizable. Sparks flickered within the giant gouges torn into the walls, the remains of antennas and walkways strew across the roof while a few larger components had impaled the structure. At the rear of the facility, fire all but concealed what had once served as the UEC’s center of operations on the planet, and with its destruction, the planet Sekhmet was officially fallen. 

Vargoth nodded approvingly, the legionnaires slowly coming out of hiding behind him as they gazed in awe at the smoldering inferno. Although the Sapphire Eye was still new to warfare, they were experts when it came to technological might. With such powerful machines backing their forces, how could the UEC ever hope to survive their onslaught? Forcing himself to suppress his joy, Vargoth glanced over, “Antarus.”

“Yes sir!” the captain responded, stepping out from behind cover and hurrying up beside him, glancing at the fortress briefly as bits of debris landed around them. 

“Move your forces into the facility. Secure whatever is left of their data core and leave no survivors.”

“At once!” Antarus barked, slamming an arm across his chest in salute before turning to his squadron. “You heard the general! Push into the Command center and locate their servers! No survivors!” 

Vargoth remained motionless as his legionnaires stormed the facility, his cape billowing around him as his furious glare remained fixated on the carnage. Even as the gigantic thuds of the twin Raptors shook the world around him, he paid them no mind, trying his hardest to burn the image of the flames into his mind. What had once been thoughts and dreams was now a reality, and it was sickly sweet. 

For a brief moment, the General powered off his eyes, tilting his head back as a strange and foreign feeling flowed through him. Ever since escaping the clutches of the UEC, he had pushed himself for every moment of every single day, but, in this moment… he felt like he didn’t have to. He felt like he could relax and let the weight off his shoulders for just a single moment. For the briefest of moments, he couldn’t help but wonder if this was the feeling so many had told him to find, but he didn’t dwell on the emotion for long. 

Powering his eyes back on, he turned and marched towards the side of the bridge overlooking the bay, paying no mind to the legionnaires dodging around him. Debris tumbled off the bridge as he stopped at its edge, clasping his hands behind him as he gazed out at Crescentia. What had once been a bustling center of commerce and culture for the UEC’s frontier systems was now nothing more than a smoldering graveyard. All across the city, flames and thick trails of smoke rose towards the sky, large, ruined plots sitting where skyscrapers had once towered proudly. Wreckage and flotsam bobbed on the water across the bay, explosions going off near the cape as the UEC’s orbital cannon was finally destroyed. 

Pride surged into his core as he admired the handiwork of his legions. For three years, he had worked tirelessly to ensure their legions could defeat any foe to ensure the empress’ vision could be made manifest. Now, in one decisive strike, his forces had effortlessly torn down the UEC’s walls and paved the way to the heart of their civilization. While the road would be long, soon, they would be knocking on Keller’s doorstep, and then he could finally fulfill the empress’ wish and end the humans once and for all! 

A fire ignited in his eyes. There was nothing he hated more than humans. They were a merciless, cruel, and bloodthirsty race that didn’t care who or what they destroyed in their quest for power. Their history was bathed in blood, and while Vargoth hated them for what they had done to him and so many others, he hated them more for what they had done to his empress. 

Only five years ago, Sapphiria had lived as a part of an innocent, peaceful civilization with no knowledge of the stars, but the UEC had burned her world, and her people, to ash. Against all odds, Sapphiria had survived the onslaught only to be captured and used as a tool. Although she had escaped her captors and founded their empire to stop them, he knew the memories of all those she lost still haunted her. It ate at her, day by day, and although he could do nothing to help her pain, he could at least carry out her command faithfully. 

Eyes blazing with fury, Vargoth slowly tilted his gaze up to the sky. Streaking across the sky were dozens of burning meteors, the remains of the UEC’s proud fleet slowly falling to the planet in fiery pieces. A wind kicked up around him as he calmly admired the sight, fiery streaks beginning to rain down all across the planet. With all his might, and all of his will, he would see the empress’ verdict done. By his hand, the UEC would be destroyed, and vengeance would finally be hers…