20/Kryo/2467 R.S. 11:47:21

Loud, repetitive beeps originate from a black, unequipped helmet. A hand with skin-tight matte black fibers reaches out for it, grabbing it and swooping it from the metal table. Two pressure seals lock into place, now with the helmet equipped, a deep inhale is heard from within, followed by a sigh. Flickering, the helmet's visor lights up, showing off its shiny black glass with a bright orange trim, a button on the side of the helmet activates what seems to be a message from Central Command, General Dovyo himself. The message read: "51, an official UMCA Data Pad was recovered by Epsilon Squadron while pressing our advantage against Caloris' Millitant uprising, I want you to acquire this Data and bring it to me at Central. Good Ventures, out.".

The Black armored Trooper walks toward a dimly lit metallic hallway and presses on a keypad that is on the wall, opening the metal door in front of him. As he walks outside to the bright blue sky with tranquil white clouds, the sun shines on his back revealing a white M.K.X. imprinted into the metal armor, these were his initials. A second engraving on his right chest plate displayed the number he placed within the Trooper Program, 51. He continues to make his way across the dirt path that leads to the SIGMA Squad motor pool, a structure within the Barracks Complex the UMCA had set up for the neighbor Squadrons Lambda and Sigma which housed various Military vehicles for both of these Squadrons, the path turns into a shiny metal sidewalk when once arriving at the large metal garage gate, the building was made out of metal-reinforced concrete, the same goes for most of the Barracks Complex. 51 now enters through the open gate, finding Lambda Squad Leader, K.E. 200 he has his armor on as he works on his Squadron's Armored Personnel Carrier, an armored All-Terrain Buggy sits next to the APC, the Buggy, however, is Sigma property. They see each other and 200 stops working on the vehicle to address 51.

200: "Going back at it, I see."

He says this regarding 51 going to the field continuously without much intermission, 51, looks back at 200 and replies.

51: "It wouldn't be as fun, now would it?"

200: "You gotta stop running these.. "random" ops, you'll get yourself killed one day."

51: " 'Doubt it."

Says 51 as he walks to the dark Blue RAB-1T Rapid Assault Buggy, which has a mounted HMG-75, while not directly on top, it is over to the driver's side, usable by a rear passenger willing to stand through the rocky road ahead.

200: "Where you off to this time?"

51: "Caloris."

Michael Replies to Lambda Leader as he turns on the RAB-1T. The small yet thunderous motor raged on, 200 scoffed as he turned around to continue his diligence. 51 grips the driving wheel tightly and revs the buggy twice, he accelerates. With great speed the RAB-1T jumps out of the Motor Pool and slowly prowls to the right, he makes a peace sign at 200 before accelerating and drifting across the corner to the right, leaving the Complex and beginning his quest. He continues to drive down the dirt road, surrounded by grassy plains. This is Ino, sharing an island with Caloris. The once beautiful hill country has always been one of every Centralian's places to travel once they have a significant other, however recent Millitant incursions have left Ino a war-torn shadow of its former self. After several minutes of plotting the course, the RAB-1T's OS comes online and speaks to Michael. "51, I've set up the fastest route to your destination, however, it will take you two hours and twenty-nine minutes to arrive."

51 looks onto the distance ahead, analyzing the situation, thinking. Doubtful he will make it in time he activates SatCom to contact his fellow Squadmate 49, The Squadron's Operator. A blue light activates on the side of 51's Helmet, the communications systems are working and Michael can now contact 49.

51: " This is 51, Jacklyn, I may need some transportation."

A couple of seconds go by without any reply from 49, Michael remains silent, continuing to drive down the dirt road he sees three dark vehicles stationed in the middle of the road that turns into asphalt, this marks the beginning of the Caloris Dam, a small dam construction that both filters the water and generates energy from it to power the Kerm District, 51 squints his eyes to see better when suddenly 49 SatComs in.

49: "Copy that, where are you?"

51: "I am approaching Caloris' Dam, hey I have eyes on som-"

Out of nowhere the RAB-1T gets lifted off the ground by an explosion triggered by the buggy's front-left wheel, the parts scattered across the field and smoke slowly begins to float into the atmosphere. The buggy comes crashing into the ground upside down, the force of the crash cracks the windshield, immediately RAB-1T's OS begins to speak. "WARNING, WARNING, Hull breach detected, vehicle unable to reboot, critical systems missing, recommend immediate evacuation of vehicle, Telemetry Data wipe in progress..."

51: "Ugh, what the-... Jack!"

49: "Mike! What the hell happened?"

Michael proceeds to unbuckle his seatbelt, dropping to the floor he attempts to open the door, nothing. He changes positions to kick open the door with his right leg. *CLANK* "Hnng c'mon!" He struggles. *CLANK* "Third time's the charm, Michael." *CLANK!* The door does not budge and the Buggy's OS warns 51: "WARNING, WARNING, TELEMETRY DATA WIPE COMPLETE, VEHICLE UNSTABLE, RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE EVACUATION." Michael charges the next kick pulling both his legs back, with full force he kicks one last time *CLANK* the buggy door goes flying outwards on the fourth attempt, 51 sighs in relief, as he begins to crawl outside he looks to his right towards the dam and sees that the vehicles are still there, he then looks to his left and sees the explosion's crater followed by all of the buggy's debris. He stands up and pulls out his MTR from inside the wreckage, he chambers it, and a bullet comes out from the ejection chamber, it was already loaded. Carefully he begins to approach the vehicles with his Trooper Rifle aimed down at the vehicles, reaching the vehicles he begins to investigate, not long goes by until he realizes these are Millitant Scout SUVs, SatCom comes online, it is Jack.

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49: "Michael, I'm approaching the dam, I've got eyes on the wreckage, can't see you though."

51 looks up into the distance seeing Sigma Squadron's DropShip; The Sanity: a Class B-Heavy Dropship capable of carrying a crew of twelve and a vehicle magnetically winched on the bottom. Approaching from the South, the loud turbines begin to resonate with the dark vehicles around 51, suddenly an oxidized door violently opens up on the opposite side of the vehicles and from it emerge four armed Millitant Soldiers fully suited for battle, he shifts his attention towards the incoming hostiles and rapidly aims down his sights. As they rush outside on edge due to the explosion and loud turbines roaring above them, a Soldier grows desperate and reaches for a rifle on their back, 51 aims to their head and shoots a three-round burst downrange, two rounds crash into their helmet followed by a gush of blood splattering across the other Soldier's black ferrite chest-plates. "We've got a man down!" One soldier exclaimed to his brethren before they all take cover behind one of the three vehicles. 51 while in cover switches the fire-mode of his MTR from Burst to Automatic, this allows Michael to put down more suppressive fire, he opens fire at the Soldiers ahead holding them at bay, 49 notices the sudden firefight and flies by the Dam.

51: " Jacklyn, there's got to be more hostiles down inside the Dam."

49: "Got it. Let's cut the party short, take cover Mike!"

51: "You're clear!"

Michael reloads his bullpup MTR introducing a fresh magazine and holds position, the Sanity hovers above the scene, activating both frontal autocannons and begins to rain down heavy automatic fire at the Soldiers below, tearing them apart. "That's enough Jack, we don't want to destroy the structure." Michael reminds Jacklyn and with this he backs away and says: "I'm gonna get the squad, don't get yourself killed, X.", before flying away. Michael scoffs and leaves the cover, heading to the previously busted-open metal door now riddled with bullet holes, this leads to crooked, old metal stairs that lead to the main hub of the Dam. "This must lead to engineering." He thinks to himself as he quietly descends into the hub of the Dam, darkness quickly engulfs 51 as he finalizes his descent, he turns on his MTR's built-in flashlight lighting up the concrete corridor in front of him, it was also the only extension in the dam's initial hub, his footsteps echo as he searches for a door to main engineering. "Hmm... This Dam is old..." Michael thinks to himself, as he scans the place. "Systems are almost a century old themselves, I wonder what the Millitants have planned. " He continues as he approaches the corridor's dead end. Ten feet away from the Main Engineering Room muffled yelling can be heard from inside, the desperate Soldiers discuss the situation with themselves, planning what to do. Word had already been received that a Trooper had intercepted their incursion. Stepping right in front of the Engineering Room Michael grips his MTR with more strength, "Here goes nothin'." He thinks to himself before contracting his right leg, with a powerful kick the door abruptly breaks off of its hinges and is sent flying into one of the Soldiers reaching for a U-2 Pistol, Michael presses the butt of his MTR against his right shoulder and unhesitatingly opens fire at the door, the bullets penetrate through and pierces the staggered Soldier killing him as the door comes down on him. He shifts to his right, where another two Millitant Soldiers have their backs turned at 51 as they loaded their Submachine Guns, 51 shoots at them, killing one, the other Soldier is hit on the shoulder and rolled behind a desk in pain. *CLICK!* 51's eyes grow as he realizes his MTR's magazine clicks empty. Suddenly a fourth Millitant Soldier appears from the left side of the room, "I'll hold him down, run!!". He screamed to the wounded as he runs towards Michael to tackle him, shifting his attention and switching stances, 51 ejects the magazine sideways, making the old used magazine fly into the incoming threat, clipping him above the eyebrow, but he continues to run beside the damage afflicted. With blood spewing out all over his face, the Soldier grabs on to 51's MTR and starts to pull it, "You! I'm not afraid of you!" The Soldier exclaims at the tall Trooper with emotion, to which 51 reacts, he headbutts the Soldier, the metal helmet crushes his nose, 51 pushes his MTR making the Soldier fall to the ground with an ammunition-less rifle and a devastated nose, he attempts to get up but Michael pushes him down by putting his foot on the Soldiers head. Silence suddenly fills the room what is left is the sounds of pain of the remaining Soldiers. 51 towers above the Soldier with his foot on his head.

51: "Your ignorance is what gets you killed. Now, tell me what would the "Great" Millitant Republic want with an old, ruined Dam?"

The Soldier although weakened is still very resistant to the Trooper's interrogation, "I ain't telling you shi-" Michael applies more pressure on to the man's head. "AAAGHH" The Soldier exclaimed with agony as his head painfully pulsated.

51: "Do you want to suffer the same fate as your squadron? You, unlike them, have a choice here."

A nugget of reason has managed to break through the Millitant Indoctrination and Fanatic Propaganda, he stopped resisting, and prepares to speak. Michael removes his foot from the Soldier's head. "This place's rigged to blow... But you're not too late, Trooper.." The Millitant implies, he continues as Michael retrieves his MTR. "We planned to detonate this room from-" They are interrupted by a Soldier with two gunshot wounds on his right arm also his shoulder, which emerges from behind a bloody black granite desk."Traitor! You assist the abomination!" He screamed at the downed Soldier for giving out the information to 51. Michael turns around alerted, quickly reloading his MTR, he reaches down to his waist for a magazine when suddenly the opposing Soldier grabs the U-2 Pistol and unleashes eight rounds at the Trooper and the downed Soldier, in an attempt to protect the Soldier Michael stands between the two men, his Barrier systems come online and stops most bullets, the Capacitor begins to beep, alerting 51 of its decaying state, unfortunately, one bullet breaks through the Barrier and crashes with the Soldiers head. "NOO!" Michael exclaims as he puts in the magazine, the Soldier sadistically giggles before getting his face erased by a burst of bullets shredding through it. The lifeless body falls abruptly, revealing 51 aiming towards his general direction, he lowers his guard and looks around the Engineering Room in search of any explosives, the Dam's monitors detailing the power output and energy systems were greenlit, everything was working as usual maybe they hadn't gotten to place the explosives. "Strange," he thought to himself as he stared at the performance monitors. "everything seems, normal, have I intervened just in time?...".