NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 15: An Update.
September 2184. SEAF Team. One Mile from the Dead City.
The SEAF engineers, along with Jason, labored to restore power to the bunker. Meanwhile, three APCs were sent towards the Dead City under Jason's orders. Their mission was clear: inspect the warehouse where they had previously encountered a strange mechanical monster. If it was dead, they would call in Pelicans to retrieve the body for study. If it was still alive, an orbital strike would be initiated again.
Inside the lead APC, the team's commander was on edge, his gaze focused through the sight of the autocannon as they neared the ghostly outlines of destroyed buildings.
"There it is," he muttered.
According to Jason's report, there was a path that led straight to their objective.
One of his soldiers, tense, spoke up. "Why are we doing this if the damn thing is dead? Let it rot here."
The commander turned away from the sight. "You don't get it, do you? We don't know if this was a one-off or something bigger. We're blind out here. Who knows what else might be lurking in these ruins, just waiting for us to stumble into it?"
The soldier sighed, leaning back against his seat. "Sorry, sir. It's just... this whole mission's been insane."
The commander couldn't disagree. What had started as a simple salvage operation had spiraled into chaos, and now it seemed they were stuck in this wasteland far longer than expected. He stepped away from the turret and pressed a button on a screen, bringing up a link to Jason. Jason appeared on the monitor, walking down one of the corridors of the bunker.
"You at the warehouse yet?" Jason asked.
"We're about there. At our current pace, we should arrive in about ten minutes," the commander replied.
"Keep weapons hot. We hit it with an orbital strike, but remember how those Terminids kept fighting even after losing chunks of their heads. If that thing twitches, pull back and call in another strike. If it's dead, check it out thoroughly, especially the head. Something about it caught my attention."
"Understood, sir."
Cutting the connection, the commander returned to his post as the three APCs passed beneath the towering remains of a skyscraper. Once clear, his eyes locked on the distant warehouse, its roof blown apart from the orbital bombardment.
"Liberty... they didn't hold back," he muttered, adjusting the night vision.
He gave the order to halt near the front door, and the APCs slowed to a stop. "Alright, weapons ready. Check your tanks and suit seals. I'll take point. You," he pointed to the driver, "stay on the gun and cover our backs."
Twenty-two soldiers, including the commander, exited the APCs. They fanned out, ready for anything. One soldier asked, "Orders, sir?"
"We're sweeping the warehouse first. After that, we'll focus on the creature."
"Yes, sir."
Weapons checked, they moved forward through the warehouse's blown-out door. Inside, the walls and floor were scorched black from the strike, the flames having spread before dying out recently. They advanced cautiously, passing containers, their eyes scanning for movement.
"Just like Helldiver Jason described... Our guest should be on the other side," the commander whispered.
Hugging the sides of the containers, the team advanced until the commander peeked around the corner. The sight before him sent a chill down his spine.
"Sweet Liberty..."
The Steel Terror lay before them, burnt and mangled from the firefight with Jason and the orbital strike. Pieces of its mechanical body were scattered across the floor, and its form was nearly cleaved in two.
"You three, with me. We'll get a closer look. The rest of you, sweep the area—no surprises."
The commander and three soldiers approached the corpse. Upon closer inspection, the monster was a grotesque fusion of metal and flesh. They shined their flashlights on the beast's head and saw something that made their blood run cold.
"Is that...?"
At the center of the monstrosity's massive body was the head of a worker drone. It was difficult to tell if the drone had been male or female, but rows of jagged teeth lined the top half of its mouth. Its lower jaw was missing, and where the neck once was, a twisted mass of wires and flesh fused grotesquely.
"I'm starting to think this is what happens when one of them drones gets caught by something... like this," one soldier muttered.
"Not a good way to go," another added grimly.
Seeing no signs of life, the commander radioed Jason.
"Helldiver Jason, do you read me?"
After several seconds of silence, Jason's voice crackled through.
"This is Jason."
"Sir, we've reached the warehouse. The rest of the team is doing a sweep, but this thing looks dead—no movement, no activity."
"Is the room clear enough for a Pelican extraction?"
"Yes, sir. It's nearly cut in half. With a little work, we can finish the job and airlift it for study."
Jason approved, knowing the Ministry of Science would want this specimen. Now it was just a matter of waiting for the transport to arrive.
Copper 9 Orbit. SES Aegis of Integrity.
In orbit above Copper 9, the fleet of SES ships maintained formation over Bunker 00. Pelicans continuously ferried supplies between the ships and the planet. On the bridge, the Democracy Officer observed the holographic display of the planet, his eyes tracing the movements of dropships.
"Sir, we just received a request for a Pelican to retrieve something from one of the cities. It's a large sample—something they can't carry themselves."
The officer moved the hologram to the city's position. "Granted. Send them. Any word from the Helldiver?"
"Nothing for a while, sir... and I must say, I'm uneasy about this."
The officer shared the sentiment. "So am I. But we'll see this through. If he doesn't respond soon, I'll contact him myself."
Helldivers were required to maintain communication, and prolonged silence was concerning. But as the officer monitored the situation, a new message appeared—direct from the Ministry of Defense. This was unusual.
"What the...?"
He clicked the screen, revealing the symbol of Super Earth. The face of the Minister of Defense appeared, grim and furious.
"Where is your Helldiver in charge?" the minister barked.
"He's on the planet, sir, carrying out his mission. Nothing has changed."
The minister's eyes were cold, and a sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead. "Get me in touch with him now. If I don't hear from him within one hour, I'll have you all labeled as traitors to Super Earth."
The officer and his crew were stunned into silence. "A traitor, sir? We've done nothing to betray Super Earth."
"That's not my concern. Either you get me in touch with him, or I'll send a fleet to glass Copper 9 beyond recovery."
The screen went black. For a moment, no one moved, the weight of the threat settling in. The officer snapped to action.
"Get me in touch with the Helldiver. Now!" he ordered, panic lacing his voice.
One of the crew members frantically entered commands, and soon enough, Helldiver Jason appeared on the screen.
September 2184. Copper 9. Deep within the Bunker.
Jason's voice cut through the dimly lit room, his tone edged with suspicion. "What's going on? I wouldn't be getting this call unless something serious was happening." He hoped, with every fiber of his being, it wasn't about that monstrosity they had put down.
The officer's face appeared on the screen, grim and tight with restrained panic. "It's not that, sir... but are you alone?"
Jason's eyes darted to the side, catching a synthetic voice just off-screen. The Helldiver glanced in its direction.
"Is everything alright? We still have a few more sectors to check." Khan's mechanical voice grated against the already tense air.
Jason raised a hand, signaling him to wait. "Khan, I'll be with you shortly. Continue ahead. I'll catch up."
Once Khan disappeared, Jason moved swiftly into a rusted, hollow chamber adjacent to the corridor. He pulled the creaking door shut, the metallic groan echoing like a dying animal. He didn't need eavesdroppers for this.
"What's happening? That thing's not still alive, is it?" His voice was barely a whisper now, eyes darting as though the shadows themselves might betray him.
The officer shook his head, his eyes sunken with dread. "Sir, I've received a direct transmission from the Ministry of Defense. If you don't establish contact with the Minister within the next hour, we'll all be branded as traitors—and a fleet will be sent to glass this planet."
Jason's blood ran cold. Traitors? To Super Earth? Impossible. They had bled, fought, and sacrificed for it. Now they were going to be marked as enemies of the very cause they fought to uphold? What in the black void had terrified the Ministry so much that they were willing to destroy everything, including their men, to cover it up?
His mind raced. Copper 9 had been dead for decades, bombarded into oblivion by Super Earth's nuclear arsenal. And now, here they were again—something far worse lying in wait beneath the rubble.
"Patch me through. I'm too deep in this godforsaken bunker to reach the APCs in time."
The officer's nod was quick, and within seconds, the SE insignia was replaced by the severe face of the Minister of Defense.
"Why did you not contact us immediately, Helldiver?" The Minister's voice was venomous, the kind of tone that could end careers—or lives.
Jason scanned the room once more, ears straining for any sign of movement. Only silence. The shadows were still, but unease crawled over his skin like insects.
"Sir, I've made contact with the local population, and I've been gathering data. It seems the drones—both combat and worker classes—have survived, adapting to this post-apocalyptic wasteland. The combat drones, in particular, are far beyond anything we've encountered. As for the workers, they've shown no signs of aggression... yet."
The Minister's gaze was unblinking like a predator sizing up its prey.
"Remove your helmet." The command was as sharp as a blade.
Jason's heart skipped. "Sir, the atmosphere here is toxic. If I—"
"You have stims. That is an order, Helldiver. Failure to comply will result in immediate classification as a traitor."
Jason's fingers trembled as he unlatched his helmet, slowly lifting it off. His breath hitched as the foul air hit his lungs, the acrid taste clinging to the back of his throat. The Minister leaned forward, inspecting him closely. Jason felt exposed, as though the Minister was looking for the smallest reason to condemn him.
After a long, agonizing moment, the Minister leaned back. "Good. That's enough."
Jason quickly sealed the helmet back in place, taking deep gulps of purified air. His voice, though steady, was threaded with frustration. "What in the name of Super Earth is going on here, sir?"
The Minister's eyes darkened, his expression becoming unreadable. "Listen carefully. From this point onward, your mission parameters have changed. You will continue working with these drones, gathering intelligence on them. At the end of every day, you will send me a full report. And be warned—your ships are under a total communications blackout. No one enters or leaves this system without my authorization. Any deviation from these orders, and I will have every member of the SES, SEAF, and your Helldivers executed for treason. Is that understood?"
The weight of the command crushed down on Jason's shoulders. There was no way out. They were isolated, cut off from everything and everyone. And now, if they made the slightest misstep, they would all die.
"Understood, sir." His voice was grim, heavy with the realization of their new reality.
"Good. Since you've established contact, you're off the hook until tomorrow night. I expect a full report then. Fail to deliver, and you know the consequences."
The screen went black, leaving Jason alone in the cold, rusted room. He clenched his fists, anger, and frustration boiling beneath the surface. This was no longer a salvage mission—it was something far more sinister. Whatever had happened on Copper 9, the higher-ups were willing to annihilate their own to keep it hidden.
A soft knock echoed from the door.
"You alright in there?"
Jason straightened, pulling himself back into command mode. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just received a transmission. Khan, I need to return to the command ship. There's something I have to discuss with my team."
Khan's synthetic eyes glinted as Jason stepped out. "Nothing wrong with that, Jason. When you're done, I'll show you the rest of the facility."
Jason nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts already racing. As he retraced his steps out of the bunker, he realized the full extent of the nightmare they were trapped in. They were completely alone.
Edited thanks to ELE73CH.