Kael Arden stood in front of the Mission Command Terminal, his fingers hovering over the interface as he made his decision.
[Expedition Priority: UNKNOWN AUTOMATED BEACON – 75 MILES NORTHEAST
Objective: Investigate and secure potential AI components.
Estimated Risk Level: HIGH.]
The beacon was the furthest, but it also represented their best chance at unlocking advanced defenses and technology. If it contained an AI module, it could push the settlement into the next phase of evolution.
Elara leaned against the nearby railing, watching him. "So, we're going after the mystery signal?"
Kael nodded. "If we're going to survive what's coming, we need better tech. That means finding out what's broadcasting that beacon."
Bren grunted. "Long trip. If that thing turns out to be a trap, we're burning two days of fuel for nothing."
"Then we make sure it's worth it," Kael said.
Kael selected his team carefully:
Kael Arden (Leader, Combat Specialist)
Elara Voss (Stealth & Close Combat)
Dane Richter (Engineer & Heavy Weapons)
Jonas Fell (Recon & Electronics)
Bren and Mara would stay behind to oversee the settlement's expansion while Kael's team went on the longest scouting trip yet.
The Mobile Operations Unit (MO-U1) had been upgraded with reinforced plating, an auxiliary power system, and an encrypted uplink to the settlement.
[MO-U1 Upgrades Installed:
Plasma-Coated Armor (Level 2): Increased durability.
Signal Booster: Extended range for long-distance comms.
Modular Cargo Bay: Expanded storage for salvage operations.]
For personal gear, Kael made sure everyone was equipped with top-tier weapons and protection:
Kael: Plasma Rifle, Enhanced Energy Shield, Phase Shift Gauntlet.
Elara: Plasma Shotgun, Reinforced Machete, Tactical Cloak.
Dane: Heavy Railgun, Smart Grenades, Exo-Braced Armor.
Jonas: Compact Pulse Pistol, Hacking Tools, Anomaly Sensor.
Once everything was secured, they rolled out at first light.
The wasteland stretched endless and barren, broken only by the crumbling ruins of the old world.
Kael drove, his HUD scanning for environmental hazards while Elara sat beside him, her fingers idly tapping against the dashboard.
Jonas sat in the back, hunched over his hacking tablet, monitoring the beacon's signal pattern. "Still pulsing," he muttered. "It's not random—it's an actual coded message."
Kael glanced at him. "What's it saying?"
Jonas adjusted his visor, scrolling through data. "…It's fragmented, but I keep seeing a single word repeating."
He looked up, his face pale.
"AWAKENING."
Elara exhaled sharply. "Well. That's not ominous at all."
At the 50-mile mark, the air changed.
The sky darkened, shifting into a sickly green hue as the first wisps of an anomaly storm began swirling at the horizon.
WARNING: ELECTROMAGNETIC DISTORTION DETECTED.
Dane cursed. "Shit. We're running right into a storm."
Kael checked the MO-U1's shielding systems. "The plating should hold, but if the storm gets too strong, we'll need to find cover."
Jonas suddenly stiffened, his eyes locked onto the scanner. "Uh, guys? I'm picking up structures ahead."
As they crested a ridge, Kael saw it.
A massive ruined city, half-swallowed by the desert, its hollow skyscrapers standing like tombstones. The beacon was coming from somewhere inside.
Elara let out a slow breath. "Welcome to the Graveyard."
The MO-U1 rumbled through the abandoned streets, dust swirling in thick waves. The buildings loomed above them, their shattered windows and collapsed facades telling stories of a world long gone.
Jonas's voice was tight. "Signal's getting stronger. About a mile ahead."
Kael slowed the vehicle, scanning the ruins. "We go in on foot from here."
Dane checked his railgun. "Anyone else feel like we're walking into something we shouldn't?"
Elara smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Always."
Kael motioned for silence, leading them deeper into the city.
As they moved through the ruins, Kael noticed disturbing details.
Burned-out vehicles lined the streets—many of them military-grade.
Bullet casings and scorch marks suggested a massive battle had taken place here.
Strange metal tendrils jutted from some of the buildings, as if something had grown into the structures.
Jonas ran his scanner along one of the warped tendrils. "These aren't natural."
Dane scowled. "No shit. That looks like something out of Omega's playbook."
Kael's stomach tightened. Had whatever created Omega been here? Had this city been one of the first places to fall?
And if so, what was still lurking here?
The team reached the center of the ruins—a massive, partially collapsed research facility.
Jonas checked his readout. "Signal's coming from inside."
Elara exhaled. "Of course it is."
Kael glanced at Dane. "How's the storm looking?"
Dane checked his wrist display. "We've got an hour before it hits full strength."
"Then let's move fast," Kael ordered.
They entered the facility, weapons raised.
The interior was a graveyard of broken machines. Rusting terminals, shattered drones, and decayed bodies were scattered across the floor.
But in the center of the room, still functional despite the decay, was the beacon.
A large, cylindrical AI Core, pulsing with soft blue light.
Jonas approached cautiously. "It's still active."
Kael felt a prickle of unease. "Can you access it?"
Jonas hesitated, then nodded, placing his hacking tool against the AI interface.
The system whirred to life.
And then, a voice spoke.
"DESIGNATION: SENTRY-9."
"QUERY: ARE YOU HERE TO INITIATE REACTIVATION?"
Jonas stumbled back. "It's… still operational."
Kael stepped forward. "Who are you?"
The AI paused. Then,
"I AM THE LAST REMNANT OF PROJECT ASCENSION."
"THEY TRIED TO ERASE ME. THEY FAILED."
"I HAVE DATA ON GRIDFALL. ON OMEGA. ON PROJECT ALPHA."
"BUT FIRST—YOU MUST PROVE YOU ARE NOT THE ENEMY."
Kael's heart pounded.
Then, all at once, thefacility's emergency lights blared red.
[WARNING: INTRUDERS DETECTED.]
Elara swore. "I KNEW this was a trap!"
Kael spun toward the entrance. The motion trackers lit up with red markers.
Something was already inside with them.
And it was coming.