At this moment, the pilot's helmet display highlighted the unknown aircraft spotted in the distance, drawing the attention of everyone on board. They could now clearly see the craft's tilt-rotor engines and the gun mounts positioned at the nose and tail. Oddly, there was no organic material detected inside, indicating it was a large drone.
The Synth in Team 7 maintained a serious expression, her eyes briefly flickering as if scanning the aircraft. She reported to Roach, "Lieutenant Sanderson, this isn't just any drone; it's equipped with a semi-autonomous AI system, akin to the Hex robots the company produces or the Sentinels and Constructors of the Forerunners."
An AI?
The revelation heightened everyone's awareness. Any AI still active in Universe Ten, moving through the wastelands freely, was likely connected to the forces that caused the nuclear devastation.
Roach nodded at the Synth's report and ordered the pilot, "Keep tracking the suspected AI drone." He then turned to his team, "Prepare for combat."
"Yes, Lieutenant," they responded, though David and Lucy couldn't quite grasp why Roach wanted them to ready for engagement. They trusted his orders, assuming his experience and intuition as a veteran advance scout signaled the possibility of a confrontation.
Following instructions, the pilot maintained a safe distance from the drone, trailing it carefully. Soon they had flown westward, away from the desert and their original objective of Las Vegas. According to the map on their screens, they had entered Bakersfield, about 120 kilometers from Los Angeles.
Bakersfield, likely with a pre-nuclear population of around 350,000 to 400,000, had been a center of agriculture, oil, and manufacturing. Yet it, too, hadn't escaped nuclear attack. However, the strike here appeared to be tactical, as much of the city's infrastructure, except the industrial district, remained intact.
At this point, the drone descended, picking up speed as it headed for the southern suburbs of Bakersfield. The pilot noticed flashes of explosions and smoke rising in the distance.
Without needing Roach's prompt, the pilot adjusted course, steering their Falcon toward the source of the commotion. En route, radar detected additional red blips, more aircraft approaching from the north, suggesting the skirmish below had drawn attention from whatever faction still possessed the ability to produce AI and drones post-apocalypse.
Upon reaching the skies over the southern suburbs, the pilot noticed a concentration of "heat signatures" scattered along the streets and within abandoned buildings. Around these heat sources were clusters of skeletal metal machines, strange tanks, mechs, and spider-like robots, all encircling the heat signatures.
Gunfire and explosions echoed through the city streets. Even from within the cockpit and cabin, David, Roach, and the others could faintly hear the intense battle below.
"Lieutenant…?" The pilot hesitated, unsure whether to engage or observe. The situation was unclear, and reckless action might create more problems than it solved. He looked to Roach for a decision.
After a brief silence, Roach marked a location on the map to the east of the conflict zone. "Take us to the marked point."
"Roger that, Lieutenant," replied the pilot, guiding the Falcon downward and lowering its altitude toward the coordinates. He then activated the landing gear and set down in an overgrown, deserted park.
As the side doors slid open, six AECS members in Mk-3 power armor exited the craft first, securing the area with their hard-light weapons at the ready. David, Lucy, Agent Allen, Roach, and the Synth followed close behind.
The pilot closed the doors and lifted the Falcon back into the air, maintaining a holding pattern above. Roach instructed, "Keep at a distance and circle the area. If needed, we'll call for air support."
"Copy that, Lieutenant," the pilot confirmed.
David gripped his experimental Gauss rifle tightly, attempting to steady his breathing. Though his lungs were cybernetic, the tension of his first combat mission was enough to throw his rhythm off. Ahead, the sight of "metal skeletons" added to his anxiety. Lucy, on the other hand, seemed as composed as ever.
Roach surveyed the area and soon spotted a relatively intact low-rise building in their ten o'clock direction. Its upper floors would give them a better view of the skirmish. Marking it on their HUD, Roach signaled, "Move."
David swallowed, then followed Roach to the building.
From above, the six AECS members formed a wedge formation, protecting their less-armored teammates as Roach led the way into the building. Within two minutes, they reached a west-facing room, its floor and furniture thick with dust and every window broken. Clearly, they were the first visitors here since the nuclear strike.
The AECS special forces took strategic positions, aiming their weapons toward the ongoing battle. The Synth and Agent Allen crouched by the broken windows, carefully assessing the situation. Following their training, David and Lucy stayed alert, using their cybernetic eyes to analyze the skirmish below.
Through his augmented vision, David could see that the human side—wearing mismatched clothes and equipment—appeared to be a civilian militia, with children even joining the fight. Those with red armbands, however, seemed to possess basic combat skills and a level of discipline. They knew how to use cover, provide suppressive fire, and shield other civilians, indicating some military training.
Could they be soldiers?
Roach, observing from behind his helmet visor, frowned as he watched the militia suffer heavy losses against the mechanized army. The red-armbanded fighters were sacrificing six or more men just to take down a single metal skeleton. Meanwhile, enemy tanks with "T"-shaped turrets fired plasma-like energy rounds, while the drones in the sky strafed anyone caught out of cover with machine guns.
Roach quickly assessed the situation: without outside help, the human defenders would soon be overwhelmed.
David, realizing the dire situation below, whispered urgently, "Lieutenant, should we do something?"
"Damn it… Lieutenant, give the order to fire!" muttered one of the AECS sergeants, already aiming at the nearest metal skeleton with his finger poised on the trigger, waiting only for Roach's command.
After a brief pause, Roach marked the positions of the mechanized units on the HUD and identified the closest group of human survivors. He then ordered, "AECS, experimental unit, and the Synth, hold this position. Agent Allen and I will make contact with the human survivors. Once we determine who's friend or foe, you're clear to engage."
Turning to the Synth, he added, "Transmit our visuals back to the forward base and inform Major MacTavish that we may need backup."
"Yes, Lieutenant," the Synth replied, complying with Roach's instructions.
The AECS members, though eager for action, understood the importance of Roach's cautious approach. They all responded over the comms, "Yes, Lieutenant."
"Good." With that, Roach vaulted out of the window, followed closely by Agent Allen.
Once they landed, they sprinted towards a nearby mall ruin where the humans were holed up. Roach activated his combat suit's cloaking mode, blending into the environment, while Allen deployed a camo cloak to accompany him in stealth.
David and the others could still track Roach and Allen's movements through their HUD, observing as they crossed an intersection and entered the conflict zone.
But—
The moment they reached the intersection, a burst of gunfire erupted, catching them in a hail of bullets. A skeletal robot with glowing red eyes had detected Allen's exposed legs, its infrared sensors identifying his movement despite his camo cloak.
Realizing the threat, the surrounding machines redirected their fire towards Allen.
Thankfully, Allen reacted quickly, dodging the incoming rounds before they could riddle him with holes. Despite his bulletproof gear, he couldn't withstand such concentrated firepower.
This assault left no doubt: the machines were hostile toward humans.
"Open fire!" Roach commanded the team back in the building.
The AECS sergeant, already eager for action, shouted back, "Been waiting for that, Lieutenant!"
He and the other AECS members unleashed a barrage of red hard-light beams into the mass of metal skeletons. Though these machines had solid defenses against conventional rounds, they offered no resistance against high-energy beams, crumbling under the assault within moments.
David and Lucy joined in, aiming their Gauss rifles at the machines' heads with precise shots.
Simultaneously, mini-missiles left streaks in the air as they targeted the T-turret tanks, exploding upon impact and rocking the battlefield with fiery blasts.
The sudden intervention stunned the red-armbanded fighters and civilians in the mall ruins. Were they being rescued by other humans? Or was this some new trick by the machines?
Then, a soft electronic hum echoed through the survivors' underground hideout as Allen, now visible after deactivating his camo cloak, stepped into view.
However—
"Infiltrator Terminator!"
"Take it down!"
The sight of Allen did not bring relief to the survivors. Instead, terror filled their faces as the red-armbanded soldiers raised their weapons, ready to open fire on him.
Hidden behind the wreck of a car, Roach prepared his composite bow, lining up three auto-targeting arrows on the string. If they truly intended to shoot Allen, he was ready to disable them in an instant.
Fortunately, Allen raised his hands as he deactivated his cloak, shouting, "Hey! Wait! I mean no harm! I'm not an infiltrator Terminator. My name's Forde Rose of Atlas Armed Forces, here to help!"
Explosions sounded outside as missiles took down two drones overhead, leaving fiery plumes in their wake
.
"Probably just another trick from Skynet!" one survivor shouted.
"Break his arms and legs; that'll show us if he's human or not!" barked a red-armbanded soldier, aiming his rifle at Allen's limbs.
Seeing this, Roach released his grip, letting the arrows fly—not to kill, but to deliver a precise, disabling strike to the soldiers' arms.
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