October 1st, 2184. Bunker 00. Entrance.
After the meeting concluded, Jason made his way to the entrance of Bunker 00 to meet Alia. He also needed to inspect the items recovered from Facility 7 and assess the remains of the hostiles Meus encountered. Afterward, he planned to speak with Martin before setting other priorities in motion. Meanwhile, the others remained in the command room, strategizing their own plans and preparing for the completion of the Fortress Protocol.
Stepping outside, Jason spotted Alia standing under the blast door at the center of the entrance, her gaze fixed on the frozen wasteland that stretched endlessly before them.
"Alia, the meeting's over. What did you want to discuss?" Jason asked, approaching her.
Alia remained motionless, her optics focused ahead. She sighed, rubbing her fingers over one of her optics before turning to face him. She was relieved that Jason was alone—this was a deeply personal matter, though its significance had recently shifted.
"You don't know this, and I'm fairly certain no one else does either," she began. "We drones weren't limited to this world. A dozen of us combat models were taken off-world—part of the war effort and to test our capabilities. We were attached to Helldiver teams. And now, I wonder... are they still alive? Could even one of them have survived? And if they did, would I even be able to face them?"
Jason considered her words, his expression softening. "That makes sense. A lot of effort went into creating you. But why did you leave? And why did it seem like you were... crying?"
Alia hesitated, her tone laced with guilt. "During my last operation with them, they were likely all killed. There was a forced recall—not just for me, but for all combat drones. I still don't know why. One thing I do know, though, is that the world we were deployed to faced a Siege Mech. Cyborg tech. It... it was a slaughter." She exhaled sharply. "I feel like I abandoned them to die. We'd become a solid team, proven ourselves against the Cyborgs, and then... I left. I wanted to stay, to disobey, but..."
Jason nodded solemnly. "I understand. Even if you'd stayed, there's no guarantee you could've changed the outcome. That Siege Mech could've taken out all of you. I've read the records on those things. Still, I know the feeling. I've had missions go sideways in the worst ways, yet somehow, I lived to fight another day."
Alia's optics flickered briefly as she processed his words. "You mentioned some Helldivers were put into cryopods after the war. I have a favor to ask: could you check if any of the Helldivers I served with are still alive?"
Jason folded his arms, nodding thoughtfully. "If you know their names, I'll forward them during my next meeting with the Ministry of Defense. There's always a chance they're still in cryo, maybe even deep in enemy territory, waiting for a rescue team."
"The leader's name was Tyron," Alia said, her voice quieter. "If he's alive, the rest might be too. Thank you, Jason. I've carried this guilt for so long. Maybe this is my chance to finally lay it to rest."
Jason offered her a reassuring smile. "I'll do what I can. If Tyron's alive, do you want me to set up a face-to-face meeting, or..."
"I... I don't know," she admitted. "Let's find out if he's alive first. Then, we'll figure it out from there. Thank you, Jason."
Without another word, Alia extended her wings and launched into the sky, leaving Jason alone under the blast door.
"Things just keep getting more interesting around here," he murmured, turning toward the Ministry of Science tent—his next destination.
Inside the tent, Jason overheard a conversation near the entrance.
"They should at least let us send message packets to our families. I get the communication blackout, but my folks on Calypso are probably worried sick," a female voice said.
"Join the club," another replied. "I used to check in every few days. It's been over a week now. Everyone back home must think we've disappeared."
"Focus on the work. It's a good distraction," someone else added.
Jason could relate. Nearly everyone here had family, friends, or loved ones left in the dark. He was no exception; his father was still waiting for a message that wouldn't come anytime soon.
Pushing through the tent flap, Jason stepped inside. At its center stood a smaller version of the Steel Terror—similar in appearance but scaled down significantly. Scattered across three tables were other recovered entities. On one side of the tent sat a vat containing a swirling yellow substance, alongside storage units from Facility 7.
"Ah, Helldiver! We were wondering when you'd show up," one of the scientists greeted him. "We've just finished analyzing everything we've found."
"What have you got for me?" Jason asked, stepping closer.
The scientist gestured toward the Steel Terror. "This thing's no different from the first one—aside from its size. No vital organs, no mechanical ones either. Just a mangled drone head and, interestingly, a stomach full of scrap metal."
Jason frowned. "It mentioned something about collecting resources to Meus. This confirms it—they're coordinated and have a command structure."
The scientist nodded. "Exactly. We suspect the Steel Terror is a hunter, designed to track and destroy drones. This smaller version? A collector. Now, this creature here is another story..."
He motioned to a row of tables holding dinosaur-like entities. Jason's eyes narrowed as the scientist continued.
"These are designed specifically to kill drones. Their claws and teeth are titanium, their strength off the charts—more than enough to tear through human skin or even Helldiver armor. And then there's this." He tapped the light affixed to one creature's head.
"What is it? Meus said it was flashing a blue light at him," Jason asked.
"The light itself is harmless to humans, but we tested it with a Guard Dog drone. Once we got one of the heads working, we flashed the light toward the drone's camera. It just dropped to the ground, stuck in some kind of boot loop. Everything went into standby mode and kept restarting for five minutes. It was totally helpless. I suspect the same would happen to other drones as well." He paused, his expression darkening. "Sir, if just a handful of these things get into the colony right now, it'll be a massacre. We don't know the effective range yet, but these creatures could easily neutralize the combat drones at the outpost, kill them, and pave the way for more monsters to follow."
Jason listened intently, his gaze fixed on the head. The implications were chilling. This wasn't just a problem—it was a disaster waiting to happen. Strengthening defenses before any outbound operations into the Red Zones was now a priority. He needed to brief Martin immediately; it was clear that SEAF soldiers would be essential at the outpost.
"Thank you for the information. We'll need to make some adjustments. Do you think this light could affect our sentries?" Jason asked, already planning contingencies. The first sentry had been set up at Alia and Isaak's outpost, with orders to deploy others when resources allowed.
"That's unknown," the man admitted, "but based on its effect on Guard Dogs, I'd say yes. If these creatures get close enough before the sentries can open fire, there's a high chance the sentries will go offline."
"Then we'll establish SEAF patrols at night. If I were the enemy, that's when I'd strike. What about the lockbox and the vat?" Jason asked.
They moved away from the table, heading toward the next items. Jason stopped near the vat.
"We managed to extract a sample," the man said. "Fortunately, it's not toxic to humans. However, it appears to be some form of Termicide—a chemical weapon designed to target the Bugs. It's useless to us now. You've seen what Termicide did to the Terminids on Meridia. I've recorded the data, and once we're done here, we'll send it up with the other materials to the Columbia."
Jason nodded grimly. "So they were developing something to take out the Bugs. No different than what we tried at the start of the war… which backfired and turned an entire planet into a black hole."
The man led him to a storage unit and slid open the door. Inside was a small stack of paper wrapped in plastic.
"We found these papers in good condition, thanks to the vault. They're wrapped in plastic, and we haven't reviewed them yet. We figured they're for your eyes only."
Jason stepped forward, removed the papers from the plastic, and began to read.
"Progress Report 024."
"It has been several months since the last report on the area of space beyond Kepler Prime. What we've discovered is troubling. A massive spore cloud, spanning unknown light years, appears to cover the region. Every probe and ship sent in stops transmitting and fails to return. However, the cloud seems to be dissipating as Bug hives are destroyed in the area. There's a connection between the cloud and the Bugs. With recent victories, it appears the cloud is no longer an immediate threat."
Jason froze, the weight of the words sinking in. There was no mistaking it—this paper was referring to the Gloom, the massive spore cloud that now enshrouded over a dozen star systems. If this report was accurate, the Gloom had been around since the time of the Bugs. Its connection to the Bugs—and now the Terminids—was undeniable. The cloud's slowing growth after their destruction made that much clearer.
"This… This needs to go out immediately," Jason said, his voice tight with urgency.
"What's in the report, sir?" the man asked.
Jason glanced up. "If this is accurate, the Gloom has existed since the Bugs' time. And, like the Terminids, it's linked to them somehow."
The man nodded. "Understood. Once we're finished here, we'll send everything to the Columbia."
"Thank you for your hard work," Jason said, already heading toward the exit. "I need to inform Martin about these new threats."
As he left the tent, the implications gnawed at him. The enemy, whoever or whatever it was, had adapted its weapons and technology to counter drones. That meant it could adapt further—to fight them directly. The lack of information was suffocating. For now, all he could do was share what he knew and work to devise countermeasures.
Approaching the blast door, he quickened his pace. He could only hope Martin hadn't left yet. They needed to regroup, fortify, and prepare for what lay ahead. The unknown was waiting, and it wouldn't wait forever.
Bunker 00. Command Room.
The command room was still occupied after Jason's departure. Discussions lingered about what to do for the rest of the day. With Jason temporarily not needing their assistance, the group seemed free to handle other matters before the day's end.
"So… J, you want to hang out with us? We're heading back to the colony. Got some friends to talk to and spread the word about what's coming," Lizzy said, turning her attention to Doll. "What about you, Doll? Feel like getting out for a bit?"
"Normally, I'd say no, but J, that's up to you. As for me, I'm heading back to my office—got some things to set up before Jason returns," Martin replied, heading toward the exit.
"I wouldn't mind. Honestly, getting out is something I need right now," J admitted.
"What about you, Uzi? Would you be alright coming with us?" Doll asked.
"I guess I could tag along. What about you, N? Seems like it'll be a full house," Uzi replied.
"I don't mind. It's been ages since we've all spent time together. Besides, you're right—we've got a lot of people to inform," N said.
"For me, I'll stay here, just in case something comes up. But I might drop by later," V offered.
"V, since you're staying, would you mind if I interviewed you? I'm planning to interview everyone eventually, but if you're here, you could be the first," James asked.
V hesitated for a moment, her optics narrowing slightly. She knew it was his job to gather information, but some topics she wasn't eager to revisit.
"We can, but what exactly would we be talking about?" V asked.
"Well, we could start with your life before everything went, as we humans say, belly-up, and then move on to what happened after. If that's alright with you," James explained.
"I can go next if you'd like. I don't mind talking about my life—it's pretty boring before, well… the invasion," N volunteered.
As they spoke, Lizzy glanced over her shoulder at the others trailing behind her, checking if they had their own plans.
"Do any of you have anything you want to do before we head out?" Lizzy asked.
"Not much, maybe check on my folks later. Hey, think we can take a closer look at the human ship outside before we leave?" Rebecca suggested.
"That thing's massive. I'm still trying to figure out how they landed it, let alone how they'll get it back into orbit," Thad added.
"I don't think it'd hurt to take a look," Emily agreed.
With decisions nearing finality, J, N, Uzi, and Doll approached the group. Rarely together, they relished the opportunity for some downtime, especially with orders prohibiting operations in the Red Zones. The break also provided a chance to share the latest updates and observe the humans' activities.
"Hey, Yeva, want to come with us?" N asked.
"No… I've got some things to handle. Thanks for the offer, though. Doll, Uzi, stay safe," Yeva replied before heading to the door.
"She's still avoiding socializing. I'm surprised she even showed up here. Never seen such a shut-in," J remarked.
Doll gave J a fleeting glance before focusing on Uzi. Her mother had instructed her to stay close, and she intended to do so. As for Yeva, Doll knew she'd retreat to her maps, likely hoping the humans might aid in finding Nori. It was a long shot, but for now, waiting was their only option.
As Yeva exited, Jason reappeared, having finished his tasks outside. He paused upon seeing her.
"Yeva, heading out? And I don't see Martin—has he already left?" Jason asked.
"He has, back to his office. As for me, I'm heading to my room. The others are deciding their plans. Do you need anything from me?" Yeva inquired.
"Not right now, but I might stop by later before I head to the Super Destroyer. Got a lot to discuss with the chain of command," Jason replied, stepping aside.
Yeva nodded and continued on her way. Jason watched her leave before entering the command room, his attention shifting to Lizzy.
"Big man! Jason, coming to say goodbye before duty calls?" Lizzy teased.
"Actually, I need your phone for a moment, if that's alright," Jason requested.
Lizzy raised a curious brow but complied, handing it over. Jason deftly navigated its settings, linking it to his wrist computer for communication. Handing it back, he explained, "Now we can stay in touch. But don't spam me with calls or messages. Use it only if something urgent comes up."
"Thanks. I promise I won't—maybe," Lizzy said with a chuckle.
"Make sure we get linked too when we get ours. Doesn't seem fair if only she gets it," Rebecca chimed in.
"I'll make sure of it. The same rules apply. Now, I need to speak with Martin. If I have time later, I might visit your colony. Take care," Jason said, turning to leave.
"Hey, Jason! Before you go, could you walk with me to my room? I need to grab something," Uzi called out.
"Sure. Is there something you wanted to discuss?" Jason asked.
"Yes… well, sort of. I've got something to show you," Uzi replied.
"Uzi, need any of us to come along?" N offered.
"No. This is between me and him. He's helping me find my mother, and I'd like to keep it private for now," Uzi said.
The group exchanged puzzled glances but said nothing as Uzi joined Jason. Together, they exited the room.
"Wonder what that's about?" J mused.
"Probably her gun. She's been tinkering with it for a while and might want his help," Thad suggested.
"Yeah, that's likely it. Let's head to the entrance and wait for her there," Lizzy said.
As they left, Doll's thoughts lingered on Uzi's intentions. While she trusted her, the unknown troubled her. For now, she chose to let Uzi go, focusing instead on the broader worry: even if they found Nori, what would happen when they brought her back? Four years of absence wouldn't make for an easy reunion. Still, those concerns would have to wait.
Bunker 00, Corridor 01
Walking away from the Command Room, Uzi stayed to Jason's right side, letting out a frustrated sigh. For four years, she had kept all this to herself—avoiding discussions about her mother, avoiding any connection to her. But if Jason was going to search for her mother, he needed to know what she had shown N last night, along with some other details, including her weapon issue.
"What's on your mind, Uzi? You seem troubled—have been for some time, I imagine. I get that it's your mother, but I feel like there's something more," Jason asked, his tone steady.
"It'll be easier to show you something I shared with N last night," Uzi replied hesitantly. "You know how I said my mother had a private room? Well, I took something from it. I'd like you to take a look and tell me what you think, and... well..." Her voice trailed off.
"What else is there?" Jason asked, leaning in slightly.
"Nothing. It's... nothing to worry about," Uzi muttered, avoiding his gaze.
Jason studied her carefully. It was clear there was more weighing on her than her mother, but he wasn't going to push. Not yet. For now, he'd focus on what she wanted to show him and figure out what to do from there. Martin's office could wait.
"Here it is. Home sweet home," Uzi said, reaching for the handle of her door.
"Your own private room?" Jason asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. I wanted my own space to do my own things. My dad's room is just down the hall to the right—not too far away," she said, opening the door.
As the door swung open, she flipped a switch, and a row of purple lights around the walls flickered to life. They stepped into the room, and Uzi shut the door behind them.
"And I thought my room was messy," Jason said with a chuckle, taking in the cluttered space.
"Bite me," Uzi shot back with a soft laugh. "I've been meaning to clean it up, but with how things have been... I didn't see the point."
She moved over to a box tucked in the corner, rummaging through it before pulling out the item she had shown N—a piece of paper she'd taken from her mother's private room. She handed it to Jason, who examined it carefully. The sight of the Xs and the unnerving mouths drawn beneath them made his stomach twist. Whatever this was, it was deeply troubling.
"How did you get this? I could already tell something was up with Nori, but this... Can I take this with me? I'm planning to see Martin, and maybe he can help make sense of it," Jason said, his voice cautious.
"I'd prefer it stays between us and N, but... alright. One day, she was leaving her room, and I don't know if she was careless or what, but this is all I got out of there," Uzi admitted.
"I see. You mentioned hearing her shouting in that room. Did you catch anything specific?" Jason asked as he brought out a sample collector, carefully rolling the paper and sealing it inside.
"I caught bits and pieces," Uzi said, her voice lowering. "One time, she just kept saying, 'shut up,' over and over. Another time, she said... she'd rather die. I never heard anything else in there, but... I've heard stories of drones hearing things, and seeing things that aren't there. Like how J once thought she saw Tessa in her room, even though Tessa's been dead for over a century."
"Your mother's history—how much did she tell you? Anything besides the camp where she was found?" Jason asked.
Uzi shook her head. "Barely anything. She didn't want to talk about it, and I'm not even sure she told Dad much."
"One day, we'll sit down with him and see if we can get into that room. For now, though, we'll leave it be," Jason said with a nod.
"I got you. I just... I don't know what to do," Uzi admitted.
"For now, stick with your friends. Take it from someone who's been there—being alone while carrying this weight isn't good for you. Find something fun to do, but stay within the FOBs," Jason advised.
"I know. After what happened at the warehouse, I'm not risking it. I thought we were done for that day," Uzi said. "I missed my shot, and that stupid gun has a 30-minute recharge."
"Uzi, if you hadn't missed, we wouldn't have found you. Your missed shot caused an explosion in the ceiling, and an Eagle we had in the air picked it up. That miss saved your life—and V and N's," Jason told her.
"I know, but it still bothers me. I nearly cost us everything. Besides my mother, I'd like you to fix that weapon's charging problem in the armory," Uzi said.
"I'll pick it up on my way out. Thank you for this information. It might not seem like much now, but given time, we'll make something of it. For now, we do what we can," Jason said.
She nodded, a faint smile crossing her face. It was time to relax and be with her friends. There would be more opportunities to discuss these matters, but for now, they had to wait until everything was set up and ready.
"Now, I've got to speak with Martin. Whatever this is, it seems important. Take care, Uzi," Jason said as he moved toward the door.
"You too. See you around. Probably sooner than either of us thinks," Uzi replied.
Jason stepped outside, heading toward Martin's office. Whatever Martin had to say, it was clear it was private—and urgent. Jason hoped he'd get the answers he was seeking when they spoke.
Bunker 00. Martin's Office.
Martin sat at his desk, his mind preoccupied with the weight of what was to come. The dim glow of his desk lamp highlighted the stack of reports he had barely glanced at, his focus instead drifting to the private conversations he had shared with Tessa. The subject of her night terrors, the enigmatic figure of Cyn, and their implications gnawed at him. He tapped his fingers against the desk rhythmically, pondering how much to disclose when Jason arrived.
A light knock broke his reverie. Martin glanced toward the door, already knowing who it was.
"It's open," Martin said, his voice steady but thoughtful.
The door creaked open, and Jason stepped inside, closing it softly behind him. His expression was grim, the kind of look that spoke volumes before any words were uttered.
"Apologies for the delay," Jason began. "Uzi had something she needed to show me. Important, I think. But before we dive into this, I've got something critical to tell you—something you need to know. We have a problem. Those hostile Meus we've encountered? Not the smaller Steel Terrors, but the other ones... They're anti-drone weapons."
Martin's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Jason stepped closer, his voice lowering as if the walls themselves might betray their conversation. "These things—those creatures—they have a light at the top of their heads. When it flashes, it induces a boot loop in drones. The Ministry of Science team ran tests with a Guard Dog drone. That light shut its systems down for five minutes. Five minutes, Martin. That's all it takes. And this means..." Jason hesitated for emphasis. "It can affect your drones."
Martin leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of his face. "That's... troubling. If your statement is true, it explains why we've lost so many drones in certain ruins. They're not just destructive—they're strategic."
"Exactly," Jason confirmed. "And the implications for the outposts are dire. If these creatures attack, they could neutralize your drone defenses in moments. A single breach would be catastrophic. We need to attach SEAF personnel to the outposts immediately. Until the Fortress Protocol is fully operational, human oversight is the only safeguard. I'll need to call down more SEAF units—we simply don't have the manpower to manage this otherwise."
Martin nodded, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "You're right. Without human presence, those outposts are vulnerable. We can't risk losing them—or the drones protecting them. I've been wondering why these creatures have kept such a low profile, but it seems clear now: they've been hiding, biding their time. But if they're revealing themselves like this..."
"Hiding is no longer an option," Jason finished grimly.
For a moment, the room fell into a heavy silence, both men processing the enormity of what was at stake. Martin's thoughts shifted to the matters he had kept buried for over a century. If ever there was a time to address them, it was now.
"Jason," Martin began, his voice quieter, though it carried an edge of resolve. "There's something else we need to discuss. Something I've kept to myself for far too long."
Jason crossed his arms, his expression firm. "I'm listening."
The flicker of tension in Martin's eyes spoke volumes, and Jason braced himself for what was to come.
Edited thanks to ELE73CH.