Flashing in bold white letters across the screen, "ENEMY ACTIVITY: ZONE 793, VERTERRA."

I felt a knot form in my stomach as I absorbed the information.

"We're not expected to go, right?" I asked, facing Rodriguez.

"If you're OmniCom is alerted, you're expected to go," Rodriguez replied, focusing on Maria's OmniCom alert.

Upon reaching the bay's entrance, Sergeant Rodriguez guided us toward our assigned tactical pods. After Harrison entered, I stepped aside and motioned for Maria and Luke to proceed before me. Finally, I stepped into the bay.

"The nerves will pass. It's alright, John," Rodriguez said, noticing my unease. His words did little to calm me. I quickly walked to my pod, adjacent to Jackson's. Maria was paired with Harrison, and Luke was teamed up with Foster.

"We're heading to zone 793, soldiers. A Xenobot swarm discovered one of our bases on Verterra and assaulted our troops. Unsurprisingly, there were no survivors. Our mission is to eliminate every Xeno-fiend we encounter. Since these creatures are interconnected, the hive will be alerted instantaneously. As you lose more of your Nanos, your chances of survival will diminish. However, we can disconnect, unlike the Xenos. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, either from losing too many Nanos or overexertion, you are to disengage from the enemy and exit the simulation, understood?"

"Yes, sir," we replied. "Everyone, grab your suits," Rodriguez instructed, gesturing to our lockers.

The three medics—Dr. Li, Ivan Belsky, and Ito Aki—were all engrossed at their desks across the walkway, their eyes fixed on their monitors. Their stations hummed and beeped as the computers started up. "SynapTech and Neural host are online, sir," Ito Aki reported from behind. The wires connecting our pods to the medics' computers then illuminated.

"The Cognitron chip's key feature is its adaptability to your brain. The chip is designed to learn and understand the user's unique neural patterns, allowing for an intuitive experience. In other words, the chip adjusts to your subconscious preferences as you interact with the nanobots," Dr. Li explained as we suited up. "Calibrating neural input to optimize cognitive function," Dr. Li announced, tapping away at her keyboard.

"All systems nominal." Belsky interjected with his thick accent, "Cognitive biometrics successful. Cortisol secretion within optimal parameters." "No abnormal acute anxiety or stress response detected," he added.

"How's that possible?" I murmured in astonishment.

With that, the medics fell silent, their work complete. They were straight in their chairs, focused on the monitor before them.

"Here we go, ladies and gentlemen, it's showtime," Jackson announced excitedly as his boots thudded up the steps to his pod. I couldn't believe I had to deal with this guy.

"I'm gonna take down every last one I see. You'll see," Foster boasted. Maybe this was just their way of coping with nerves.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and braced myself for the impending battle.

"Jackson, Harrison, and Foster, ensure you follow your pre-flight checklist," Rodriguez instructed from his command chair at the far end of the bay. In front of him was a large wall monitor and a semi-circular control board wrapped around his chair. The monitor displayed three views, each reading "SynapTech Streaming" in the top left corner.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"You'll want to lock your helmet, John," Jackson advised calmly, glancing down as he adjusted his chest plate.

"I don't understand. It locked itself the first time," I stammered, gripping my helmet.

"Relax, man. You didn't even pull your helmet past your nose. Are you alright?" Jackson responded.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

I was not fine.

"Once we're on Verterra, I'll communicate with you through the same comms you're hearing me on right now. Got it? We're going to work together. Trust me, buddy."

Jackson's concern indicated that my anxiety was more apparent than I had realized.

"Pilots, when you're ready," Rodriguez said.

I pressed the 'SynapConnect' button and found myself instantly on Verterra.

"Private Jackson and Moore, do you copy?" Rodriguez asked.

We replied in unison, "Yes, sir."

"Good. Your fellow soldiers are on either side of you," he informed.

I glanced over and saw Jackson's nano-swarm adjacent to mine.

"You're in zone 776, 20 kilometers from zone 793. Locate your navigational compass at the top-center of your HUD. Orient yourselves to face north."

As we turned north, I immediately recognized our destination. Sergeant Rodriguez could have simply told us to look at the blazing forest.

"How're you feeling, Johnny boy?" Jackson inquired.

"The nerves will pass," I responded.

"Attaboy, move forward."

Sunlight glinted off the silicon nanobots as the wind blew dense, dark, charcoal-colored clouds through the forest.

"Slow down," Jackson instructed. My teammates' swarms were on either side of me, maintaining a 20-foot distance between them.

"Foster and Luke, take post 2.123 kilometers away, 30 degrees northeast."

"Man, these Xenos are in for it. Right, Luke?"

"Sure, Foster," Luke replied, his voice surprisingly confident.

"Harrison and Maria, take post 2.324 kilometers away, 331 degrees northwest."

"Yes, sir," they shouted in unison.

"Jackson and Moore," Rodriguez began, pausing briefly. "You'll have to take the center."

I couldn't help but wonder why he hesitated before saying that.

"Alright, John, we're the lead assault team. That means we're the ones infiltrating the Xeno-swarm. Once we've initiated combat, our teammates will provide additional support."

I was going to war.

"Let's do this," I said, trying to sound confident.

"Hell yeah, John. Let's go, buddy," Jackson replied with enthusiasm.

We headed in our direction, 0 degrees North. The woods were intense. I heard every leaf crunch, every twig snap, and every branch brush.

".98 km away, Private Moore," Jackson informed.

".57 km away, John,"

And there they were. I couldn't believe it.

I focused on each Xenobot I saw, scanning the numerous ones in front of me, trying to make as much of a distinction between them as possible. It appeared that a leading group of Nanos attacked the Xenos in my immediate sight. Then, the rest of the Nanos dispersed and assaulted the Xenobots from various angles.

"Support teams attack," Rodriguez ordered.

"Yes, sir," Maria yelled.

"Coming in hot," Foster added.

The forest around us erupted into a cacophony of metallic clashes as the Nanos and Xenos battled fiercely.

The air grew thick with smoke, and the smell of burning metal seemed to coat my tongue and burn my nostrils with every breath. The forest around us was ablaze, the flames dancing wildly amidst the battle, casting an eerie orange glow on the chaos.

"This is amazing," Luke said excitedly.

Jackson's tactical swarm was a blur of movement, moving with lightning-fast precision as it sliced through the Xenobots. The sound of his nanobots tearing through the enemy was deafening, their metallic shells shattering in a shower of sparks and debris.

Clink, clink, clink, clink

A flurry of Xenos streaked through the air like fiery comets, lighting up the battlefield with brilliant flashes of red. Each impact sent leaves and twigs flying through the air, adding to the chaos.

The clinking resonated through the forest like thunder, drowning out all other sounds and sensations.

Despite the chaos and intensity of the moment, I could feel my senses sharpening, my instincts taking over as I dodged and weaved through the barrage of Xenos. Every nerve in my body was on edge, my heart racing as I fought with everything I had.

Gradually, the Xenobots fell one by one, their metallic shells reduced to nothing but shattered debris. The remaining trees were stripped of their leaves and branches, and the ground was covered in gooey Xeno remnants and carcasses.

"Well, what do ya know, John ain't so bad after all," said Jackson.