The words had barely left Zip's mouth when a deafening BOOM rocked Sub-Station Epsilon, the shockwave vibrating through the ferrocrete floor and sending dust raining down from the ancient ceiling of the control room. Alarms, newly activated by Shift, blared a discordant chorus.
[System Alert: Perimeter Breach Detected – North Access Tunnel. Multiple Hostile Signatures Ingressing. Structural Integrity of Tunnel Compromised.] [Anima Core Stability (Kai): 54%. Stress event registered.]
"They're in!" Zip yelled, his voice tight with a mixture of fear and adrenaline. "The whole outer barricade at the North tunnel is gone! They blew it wide open!"
"So much for a subtle probe," Roric commented, his voice utterly calm despite the sudden violence. He was already analyzing the new sensor data flooding Shift's console. "Efficient. Professional. They didn't waste time trying to pick the lock." He looked at Kai. "Your chokepoint strategy at the tunnel's internal junction is now critical, Leader Kai. They'll be moving fast."
"Breaker, with me!" Kai commanded, already moving. The attribute points he'd just allocated to Strength and Vitality hummed through him, a subtle but noticeable increase in his physical readiness. "Zip, maintain overwatch from the upper levels if possible. We need to know their numbers and if they try to split their forces once inside. Shift, Roric, keep the intel flowing. Any sign of Anima, any unusual tech, I need to know before we're face-to-face with it."
Kai and Breaker raced through the dimly lit corridors of Epsilon, the blare of the alarms echoing their urgent footsteps. They reached the internal junction point of the North access tunnel just as the first figures emerged from the smoke and dust still billowing from the breached entrance fifty meters away.
They were not Scavengers.
Five figures, moving with a practiced, lethal grace, fanned out from the tunnel mouth. They wore dark, form-fitting tactical gear, devoid of any obvious insignia, but clearly of a quality far superior to anything found on the streets of District 7. Their faces were obscured by smoked visors and rebreather masks. Each carried compact, efficient-looking projectile weapons – pulse carbines, Kai guessed, from their sleek design. They moved like a well-drilled unit, covering angles, advancing methodically.
[Hostile Analysis (Visual): 5x Unidentified Combatants. Equipment Grade: C (Professional). Combat Discipline: High. Anima Signatures: Undetected/Masked.]
"No visible Anima use yet, Kai," Shift's voice crackled in his earpiece. "But their gear is high-end. Those look like silenced magnetic accelerator rifles. Standard corporate security kit, or high-tier mercenary."
"They mean business," Breaker rumbled beside Kai, his massive frame tensing. Patches of his Gorgon Anima began to ripple across his arms and chest, his skin taking on its dull, stony sheen. "This ain't no Scavenger party."
"Hold this junction," Kai ordered, his voice low. "Don't let them push past us into the main facility. We have the chokepoint." He activated his Dermal Plating, the familiar dark scales flowing over his forearms and shoulders, the amber glow in his eyes intensifying under his hood. [Dermal Plating Active. Anima Core Stability: 49%.]
The lead intruder spotted them, raising a hand signal. The unit halted, then two peeled off to the sides, seeking cover behind debris, while the remaining three advanced cautiously, weapons raised.
"Contact!" Kai yelled, and the narrow junction exploded into violence.
The intruders opened fire, their weapons emitting sharp, contained thwips that were far quieter than traditional firearms. Projectiles, small metallic flechettes, sparked off the corridor walls around Kai and Breaker.
Breaker roared, stepping forward to shield Kai, his Gorgon-enhanced forearms raised. Several flechettes impacted his stony skin with sharp cracks, but either bounced off or embedded themselves harmlessly. [Breaker – Gorgon Anima: Kinetic Rebound (Minor) absorbing impacts. Minimal damage sustained.]
"They're testing our defenses!" Roric's voice analyzed calmly. "Standard suppressive fire while their flankers try to find an angle. Don't expose yourselves unnecessarily."
Kai, using Breaker's bulk as temporary cover, darted out, his speed surprising the advancing trio. He closed the distance to the nearest intruder in a heartbeat. The man tried to bring his carbine to bear, but Kai was too fast. A scaled fist connected with the intruder's helmeted head with brutal force. The man stumbled back, dazed. Kai followed with a rapid series of strikes, aiming for joints and exposed areas, his enhanced strength making each blow count.
The other two intruders reacted instantly, shifting their fire towards Kai. Flechettes ricocheted off his Dermal Plating, stinging but not penetrating deeply. He felt the impacts, the drain on his Anima, but pressed his attack on the first man, needing to neutralize him quickly.
"Kai, two more moving up the tunnel behind the first group!" Zip's voice suddenly shouted from above. "Total of seven now!"
Seven. This was more than just a probe. This was a dedicated assault team.
"Breaker, can you hold this position alone for a moment if I create an opening?" Kai yelled over the sound of weapons fire and Breaker's defiant roars as he absorbed more hits. "I can hold!" Breaker bellowed back, shoving an intruder who'd gotten too close, sending him sprawling.
"Roric, are these guys talking? Any idea who they are?" Kai asked, disengaging from his dazed opponent as the man's comrades laid down covering fire. "Still no comms chatter, Kai," Shift reported. "They're disciplined. Or they don't need to talk." "Their tactics are professional, almost military," Roric added. "This isn't a standard District 7 crew. They're too coordinated, too well-equipped. This is something else."
The first intruder Kai had engaged was recovering, raising his weapon again. The two supporting him were advancing, their fire becoming more accurate, forcing Kai to rely heavily on his scales and agility. His Anima Core Stability was dropping fast. [Anima Core Stability: 43%.]
He needed to change the dynamic, and fast. The chokepoint was working, but against seven disciplined, well-armed opponents, it wouldn't hold forever, especially with their D-Grade Animas.
"Breaker!" Kai shouted. "On my mark, push forward hard! Create chaos in their line! I'll try to flank the newcomers!" It was a risky move, potentially exposing them both, but just defending wasn't going to win this. He had to trust Roric's assessment that these intruders were disciplined – disciplined troops often had set responses, and chaos could break that.
The battle for Sub-Station Epsilon had just escalated significantly.