"Yes, Sir!" David and the others replied over the comms.
Soon, the screen on David's cybernetic eyes displayed the location of the "10" train station. All experimental unit members had been instructed to head there, indicating their assignment to Universe Ten. Each station corresponded to a specific portal; for example, the ones leading to the Edge of Tomorrow and Avatar universes were labeled "01" and "02," respectively.
The experimental unit, along with over six hundred AECS special forces, boarded ground vehicles that looked like shuttle buses, departing from the large equipment depot. As their shuttle entered the central hub, Rebecca, who sat by the window on the right, nudged David over the comms.
"Hey, David, look outside."
Curious, David, who also sat on the right, straightened up and looked past Lucy to see the bustling scene in the hub.
Landing pads operated non-stop, allowing various transport vessels to enter through the orderly array of gates above. Large magnetic levitation trains from the Akra District also arrived continuously. Maintenance crews and ground personnel, using engineering exoskeletons and supported by robotic arms and transport bots, worked together to unload cargo. Containers marked with red-and-white "Λ" symbols and labeled "DANGER!" and "Flammable!" were transferred to the designated train stations, including some to Station "10."
Before long, their shuttle arrived at the designated area. Exiting, David and his team followed the on-screen prompts to Platform 10, where a maglev train awaited to transport them.
Once inside the train and seated, a dispassionate female voice announced over the intercom:
"All units are ready. This train will depart for Universe Ten shortly and is expected to arrive at the forward base in three minutes."
With that, the train smoothly left the platform, heading down an aerial track toward the portal area. As they drew closer to Portal Ten, David, who had chosen a window seat this time, noticed a large container covered in black tarp passing through the sixth portal on another train. These containers, with their labels obscured, appeared as if transporting classified equipment.
David guessed this might involve some new weapon or equipment beyond his clearance. But soon, his attention returned to the train ahead. As they moved forward, the front of the train passed through a silvery, mirror-like portal.
When the blinding white light subsided, they found themselves in Universe Ten.
Through the window, David saw that construction teams had already built a sizable forward base. Like other bases, it was equipped with barracks, factories, warehouses, and a command center, and advanced Hex robots darted between the base and nearby structures, repurposing city debris and using 3D printing to provide the construction team with materials to speed up the base's growth.
Armed security personnel equipped with exoskeletons patrolled alongside heavily armored Tyrant sentries. The base's defenses featured large fixed cannons and vertical missile silos, safeguarding the base's perimeter.
After passing through the portal, the train came to a halt at the central platform within the forward base. Exiting the train, David and the others followed on-screen directions to a temporary airstrip nearby, while half of the experimental unit and AECS forces moved in the opposite direction, presumably to stay at the forward base on standby.
David, Lucy, and Rebecca reached the airstrip and found thirty Black Hawk and Falcon assault craft prepped and ready, with engines running and pilots already in their cockpits, waiting only for them to board.
"Everyone!" Soap's voice came over the comms: "We're splitting into thirty mixed recon squads, with personnel from different armed units in each team. Once aboard the assault craft, you'll immediately proceed outside the portal's shielded area. Attention!"
Soap's tone grew serious. "The moment we leave the shielded range, the unknown enemy could detect us. Each assault craft is equipped with optical camouflage and stealth coatings, but we can't guarantee full safety. So, stepping onto the assault craft means we're already in a death zone! But to secure intel for the company, we must proceed. If we encounter heavy resistance, the company will send reinforcements. Any questions?"
Soap paused, giving each team leader—who were also his subordinates and fellow advance team members—a moment to respond. When no objections arose, he continued, "Excellent! All units, board your craft and move out!"
As the comms fell silent, David checked his cybernetic display, seeing that he had been assigned to Team 7. His screen highlighted a Falcon assault craft also marked "7," indicating it as his designated craft. The team roster on his screen showed Lieutenant Gary "Roach" Sanderson of the advance team as team leader, followed by Agent Joseph Allen from the Intelligence Division. Other members included AECS special forces and a Synth labeled "7."
David noted that his team included both him and Lucy, but they were last on the roster. Indeed, in terms of experience and rank, the experimental unit members were the "new kids." Even the Synth had a form of "experience," able to download and share data and have their roles pre-programmed by the company. Thus, Synths played a crucial role in reconnaissance across Universes Ten, Eleven, and Twelve.
Rebecca, standing beside him, waved her cybernetic fist in front of his face, reminding him, "Remember to take precautions."
"Right," David replied, exasperated. Not wasting further words, he and Lucy headed toward Falcon 7, while Rebecca watched them go, her expression a mix of resignation and frustration. She shrugged and joined a fellow experimental unit member to board their designated Black Hawk.
Shortly after, the combined reconnaissance team of over three hundred personnel boarded their assigned assault craft. Once everyone was seated and the control tower gave the all-clear, the pilots initiated liftoff. The craft ascended in sequence, activating stealth mode as they left the large canopy structure that housed the portal, moving in the direction of their designated mission sites.
In the cabin of his Falcon, David sat on the left near the cockpit, the cabin doors closed to maintain stealth. He leaned back, observing his teammates. Besides Lucy, the six AECS special forces members, with their bulky Mk-3 power armor, took up much of the cabin space, especially one heavily armored member.
Lieutenant Sanderson, known as Roach, wore a high-tech combat suit that enhanced his muscular build. Due to the suit's full coverage, David couldn't see his face, and on either side of him sat the Synth and the Intelligence agent.
David had a hard time distinguishing the Synth from the humans with cybernetic implants like himself; the Synth looked like a human woman, with neatly cut black hair and delicate features. Dressed in a standard bulletproof uniform, she carried an 8mm modular submachine gun, a weapon that could be easily adapted for stealth operations with a suppressor and subsonic rounds. In comparison, Gauss, plasma, and hard-light weapons, despite their power and armor-piercing capabilities, were difficult to conceal or silence due to their obvious ballistic trails and sonic boom effects.
Roach, as team leader, had opted to carry a specially designed compound bow for situations requiring a quieter approach. Meanwhile, the Intelligence agent, Joseph Allen, was dressed in desert camo and lightly armored, prepared to serve his advisory role without directly engaging in combat.
As the Falcon continued its rapid approach, they soon left the portal's shielded zone, entering the skies over a nuclear-ravaged Los Angeles.
Through the porthole and his cybernetic eyes, David could clearly make out the devastation below: abandoned vehicles littered the streets, and scattered human remains were visible throughout the ruins. At the city's center lay a three-kilometer "dead zone" where buildings had been reduced to rubble, likely marking the nuclear blast's epicenter.
The Falcon accelerated, climbing higher to take them toward Las Vegas, northeast of Los Angeles. Their mission briefing indicated that teams left at the forward base would operate within the city, while David's squad would conduct reconnaissance within a 500-kilometer radius centered on the portal.
Only ten minutes into the journey, flying over the desert, the Falcon's pilot suddenly reported to Lieutenant Sanderson:
"Lieutenant, radar has detected an aircraft to our west."
An aircraft?
Hearing this, David and the others grew alert, even the Synth reflecting the tension in her expression. Roach paused momentarily before issuing an uncharacteristic order:
"Track that aircraft."
"What about the mission to Las Vegas…?" the pilot began to question.
"I'll inform teams 8, 9, and 10 and request clearance from command," Roach replied firmly. "Just track the aircraft."
"Yes, Lieutenant."
Complying with Roach's order, the pilot adjusted course, moving toward the unidentified aircraft. Soon, through the pilot's shared visual feed, David and the others could make out the faint outline of the mysterious aircraft.
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