Supreme Commander Oliver Cups stood before the panoramic windows of Alpha Tower, his stoic gaze sweeping across the gleaming upper city sprawled beneath him. The metropolis represented centuries of order and control.
A sharp knock interrupted his contemplation.
"Enter," he commanded, his voice carrying the authority of decades in power.
A uniformed intelligence officer stepped into the chamber, her posture rigid with military discipline. "Supreme Commander, I bring urgent intelligence regarding last night's operation."
Oliver turned, his expression betraying nothing. "Report."
"The warehouse mission failed catastrophically, sir. Lieutenant Daniel Flats and Division Commander Greg are confirmed deceased. The remaining commanders barely escaped with critical intelligence."
A flicker of concern crossed Oliver's features. Lieutenant Flats had been one of his closest friends. "Cause of termination?"
"Sir, they encountered an individual with unprecedented biotech integration. Analysis confirms Burns-era technology—specifically, the prohibited comprehensive combat systems developed before the Technological Containment Acts."
"Burns technology," Oliver repeated, the name carrying historical weight. For centuries, Alpha had suppressed the dangerous advancements pioneered by Damian Burns.
"Preliminary assessment suggests we're facing descendants of the Burns legacy, sir. Their enhancements exceed our standard military protocols by orders of magnitude."
Oliver nodded grimly. "This threat requires exceptional measures. I'll inform Lord Alpha and authorize Heptad deployment."
Before the officer could acknowledge the command, the building trembled with a distant but powerful explosion. Oliver rushed to the window in time to witness a massive metallic sphere impact the plaza below, its polished surface reflecting the afternoon sunlight.
The sphere split open with mechanical precision, disgorging five hundred combat-ready cyborgs that moved with unnatural coordination. They advanced toward Alpha Tower with inexorable purpose.
"Tower security, initiate defensive protocol Sigma!" Oliver barked into his communication device. "All available units, converge on the main plaza!"
The tower's external defense systems activated immediately. Concealed weapon emplacements emerged from architectural features, targeting systems locking onto the approaching threat. Advanced energy cannons discharged with thunderous force, each blast vaporizing multiple cyborgs.
"Impressive response time," the intelligence officer noted, monitoring defense metrics on her tactical display. "Tower defenses are neutralizing the hostiles efficiently."
Oliver's expression remained grim. "This is merely the prelude."
As if summoned by his words, a massive portal tore open the sky above Alpha Tower. Through the dimensional breach emerged an advanced airship of unmistakable Burns design—sleek lines and pulsing energy conduits that violated every technological restriction established after the Great Containment.
Another metallic sphere dropped from the airship, impacting with seismic force and releasing five hundred additional cyborg units.
The tower's defense systems recalibrated, targeting the new wave of attackers. Energy blasts streaked toward the cyborgs, but this time, localized portals materialized to intercept the attacks, redirecting the energy back toward the tower.
"They're adapting," Oliver observed, his voice tight with controlled concern. The tower's reinforced barriers absorbed the redirected blasts, but the defensive advantage had clearly shifted.
***
Aboard the airship, Jason Burns' team prepared for deployment. The interior hummed with prohibited technology, displays monitoring the battle unfolding below.
Jason, his body coursing with dimensional energy, monitored the tower's defensive outputs. "I'll maintain our shield matrix and counter their tower defenses. You'll need to engage their forces directly to draw out the Heptad. That's our primary objective."
Vlad Turner nodded, neural connections linking him to his massive exoskeleton. "My combat system will provide the necessary distraction."
"Remember," Jason reminded them, his voice calm amidst the chaos, "this is strategic provocation. We need Alpha to deploy their full capabilities to properly assess them."
Vlad entered his towering mechanical creation, the neural interface illuminating as his consciousness merged with the machine. Hydraulic systems engaged as the hangar doors opened beneath him. The exoskeleton dropped from the airship, its massive form creating a crater upon impact with the plaza below.
Fred followed, his bioelectric systems crackling with barely contained energy as he descended toward the battlefield. The moment his specialized boots touched ground, he channeled electrical currents through the city.
A thunderous roar echoed across the battlefield—a challenge issued with primal enthusiasm. "FINALLY, SOME WORTHY ENTERTAINMENT! COME OUT AND FACE ME! I SENSE A KINDRED SPIRIT AMONG YOU!"
Joaquin's enhanced senses immediately identified the source—a massive figure standing amidst the chaos, casually dismantling cyborgs with brutal efficiency. His combat systems recognized the distinctive energy signature of Alpha's elite enforcement division.
"The Heptad," Joaquin noted, a predatory smile spreading across his features. "I believe I've found my counterpart."
Without waiting for authorization, Joaquin launched himself from the airship, his enhanced body cutting through the air with perfect aerodynamic efficiency. He landed with controlled impact, creating a smaller crater adjacent to the challenging figure.
The Heptad enforcer—Trevor, Rank 7—stood surrounded by dismantled cyborg components. More than half of Jason's advanced force had already fallen to this single opponent.
"You dispatched my vanguard units quite efficiently," Joaquin observed, satisfaction evident in his tone. "I expected nothing less from a worthy opponent."
Trevor's massive form rippled with transformative energy. "A true challenge at last. These mechanical toys provided insufficient sport."
Blue energy cascaded across Joaquin's enhanced physiology as his combat systems engaged at maximum capacity. Simultaneously, Trevor's form expanded and restructured, metamorphosing into an eight-meter titan with tiger characteristics—a chimeric fusion of human and beast.
They converged with explosive force, the shockwave from their initial clash shattering windows throughout the city. Each blow exchanged generated thunderous impacts as two perfectly matched combat systems tested their limits against each other.
The battlefield expanded as additional Heptad members arrived. A colossal yellow energy construct materialized, its humanoid form towering over Vlad's exoskeleton. The constructs engaged immediately, grappling with building-shaking force.
Fred found himself confronted by a blur of blue light that solidified into a sleek, aerodynamic figure whose movements generated powerful blue energy.
The airship's defensive systems detected an incoming threat moments too late. A figure with crimson hair and matching attire descended from a stealth helicopter, landing atop the vessel with perfect balance. Michael Florescent—not officially Heptad-designated but equally dangerous—placed his palm against the airship's hull. Immediately, the vessel's systems malfunctioned as his unique disruption abilities compromised its structural integrity.
The airship's external plating dissolved under Michael's touch, exposing the command center where Jason, Akari, and Beatrice monitored the unfolding battle.
Beatrice reacted immediately, channeling sonic energy through her enhanced vocal structures. The concentrated acoustic attack struck Michael with physical force, momentarily pushing him backward.
"Akari, Beatrice—engage and contain," Jason commanded, his focus already shifting to his primary objective. "I'll proceed to the central target."
Without waiting for acknowledgment, Jason activated his void transportation ability, disappearing in a flash of blue energy.
Akari unsheathed his enhanced blade, the weapon humming with deadly potential as he assessed his opponent. Beatrice prepared another sonic attack, energy gathering in her specialized vocal enhancements.
The battlefield's deadly choreography was interrupted by a massive projectile that cut through the air with impossible speed—a shuriken three times larger than a human form, spinning with lethal precision. Before Beatrice could discharge her attack, the weapon bisected her vertically, her enhanced form separating cleanly before collapsing.
The massive shuriken curved through the air, returning toward Akari with unerring accuracy. The master swordsman's enhanced reflexes allowed him to bisect the projectile with a single precise strike, his expression transforming from tactical assessment to cold fury.
"You've taken a comrade, that shuriken and the airship dissolving, you must be an exploiter that can generate metal" he stated, eyes locking onto Michael Florescent. "An efficient kill. But efficiency alone won't save you from what follows."
Akari adjusted his stance, blade positioned with deadly intent as he prepared to engage. Michael mirrored his posture, their katanas reflecting the chaos unfolding across the city.
The battle for Land Etherna's future had begun in earnest, each side now fully aware of what was at stake. Jason's revolution had announced itself not with proclamations, but with the unmistakable language of power.