Zip's urgent warning sliced through the strategic discussion in the Epsilon control room, instantly replacing pensive planning with a jolt of adrenaline. "Organized movement? Not Phantoms?" Roric's voice was sharp, his calm demeanor instantly replaced by a focused intensity. He was already at the main holo-display, bringing up the sensor feed from the North access tunnel.
Kai felt his own senses heighten, the System flashing a discreet alert: [Threat Detected: Unidentified Group Approaching Perimeter (North Tunnel). Composition: Unknown. Intent: Unknown (Presumed Hostile).] His Anima Core Stability was still a concern, hovering around 57%. He couldn't afford a prolonged, draining fight.
"How many, Zip? And what do you mean by 'organized'?" Kai pressed, moving to stand beside Roric, his eyes scanning the grainy sensor footage on the display. It showed several heat signatures moving with a fluid, almost practiced coordination that was indeed unlike the haphazard stumbling of Scavengers.
"At least five, maybe six, Leader Kai," Zip reported, his multifaceted Dragonfly eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and nerves. "They're using hand signals, moving in formation, sticking to the shadows. Definitely not your average street scum. They look like they know what they're doing."
"Shift, can you get a clearer read on them?" Roric asked, his fingers flying across his data-slate, trying to enhance the sensor feed. "Any comms chatter? Any Anima signatures?"
Shift closed her eyes for a moment, her cybernetic filaments glowing faintly as her Phase Spider Anima reached out. "Their comms are tight-beamed, heavily encrypted if they're using any at all. I'm getting nothing on open frequencies. And… no distinct Anima flares. If they're MODS, they're either extremely low-powered, exceptionally well-shielded, or not actively using their abilities. But their discipline… it feels professional."
Professional. That was a word rarely associated with District 7 incursions. "Could they be Apex Enforcers?" Kai voiced the thought that was likely on everyone's mind. A shiver of cold dread ran down his spine. If Apex had somehow tracked him here…
"Unlikely," Roric mused, though his brow was furrowed. "Apex patrols in this sector are usually uniformed, announced, and far less subtle. This feels more like… a specialized retrieval team? Or perhaps a rival faction probing our new defenses." He looked at Kai. "They're heading for the North tunnel, one of the access points Breaker and Zip identified as still potentially vulnerable, despite our initial fortifications."
"Breaker," Kai called out, his voice firm. "That North tunnel – how secure did we make it?"
Breaker, who had moved to stand near the control room's reinforced door, rumbled, "Sealed with salvaged plasteel sheeting. Braced from the inside. It'll hold against casual attempts, but a determined, well-equipped team could breach it." His Gorgon Anima made his skin look like granite in the dim light.
"They're not just probing," Zip suddenly interjected, his eyes still glued to a different, more sensitive optical sensor he'd rigged near the North perimeter. "They've reached the outer barricade. They're… they're setting a charge!"
[System Alert: Explosive Device Detected at North Perimeter. Estimated Yield: Moderate (Sufficient to breach Tier 1 fortifications). Detonation Imminent.]
"So much for a quiet consolidation," Roric muttered, a grim smile touching his lips. "It seems The Crimson Coil's arrival has not gone unnoticed." He looked at Kai, a clear challenge in his eyes. "Leader Kai, your orders? They're about to knock on our door, rather forcefully."
The responsibility slammed into Kai. This wasn't a Pit fight or a disorganized Scavenger mob. This was a coordinated, professional assault, and they were targeting a known weak point. His mind raced, the "Tactical Analysis Module" he'd consumed earlier still providing a faint edge to his thinking.
"Shift," Kai commanded, "can you get any visual inside that North tunnel from our internal sensors? What will they be walking into if they breach?" "Limited," Shift replied, her fingers dancing across her console. "The old sensors there are mostly shot. It's a straight, narrow corridor, about fifty meters long, leading to an internal junction. A natural chokepoint."
"Breaker," Kai said, "you're with me. We meet them at that junction. That corridor is our kill zone. We can't let them gain a foothold inside Epsilon proper." "Zip," he continued, "your Dragonfly Anima is too valuable for a direct confrontation with unknowns, especially with your reserves. You stay mobile, use the upper gantries and ventilation shafts if you can. Be our eyes and ears. Report their numbers, their tactics, any Anima use, if they breach the corridor. And be ready to create diversions if we need to split their focus." Zip nodded, looking relieved not to be on the front line against professionals. "Got it, Leader!"
"Roric, Shift," Kai said, turning to them. "You two coordinate from here. Provide tactical updates. If they have unexpected tech or Anima we can't handle, I need to know immediately. And Roric… if this goes bad, if they're too strong, what's our exfiltration plan for the team?" It was a question a leader had to ask, even if it tasted like defeat.
Roric met his gaze, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes – respect? Or just calculation? "Sublevel access route Delta-Seven, exits three blocks west into the old canal system. Pre-loaded on your comms. But let's focus on ensuring it's not needed, shall we?" He gave a curt nod. "The plan is sound. Repel them at the chokepoint. Show them The Crimson Coil's den has teeth."
Kai nodded, taking a deep breath. He still had his 8 undistributed attribute points. Now might be the time. 'System, allocate 4 points to Vitality, and 4 points to Strength.' [Attribute Points Allocated. Vitality Increased. Strength Increased. Current Anima Core Stability: 56%.] He felt a subtle surge, a bolstering of his physical reserves. It wasn't much, but it might make the difference.
A dull thud echoed through Epsilon, followed by the screech of tearing metal. "They're through the outer barricade!" Zip yelled. "Moving down the North tunnel now! Fast!"
"Let's go greet our visitors," Kai said to Breaker, his voice hard. He pulled up the hood of his crimson and shadow jacket, the draconic insignia on his chest a silent promise. The first defense of their new home was about to begin.