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Doryani's Machinarium
CH 5 No Such Thing as Easy Money

CH 5 No Such Thing as Easy Money

The Icebreaker mining station loomed in the darkness of space, its silhouette stark against the backdrop of distant stars. The station had been a hub of activity, mining precious minerals from the ice-rich asteroid it was anchored to. But now, it was under "new management," and the team knew right away that they were walking into a hornet's nest.

Atziri, Doryani, Eidolon, Greasso, and Shadow had been hired to install a USB daemon into the station's systems, a task that would destabilize the current operations for pure profit. It was a risky mission, but the pay was good, and they were professionals.

The team moved through darkened corridors of the station silent and efficiently. Navigating through winding passageways and tight maintenance shafts, staying out of sight and trying to avoid detection. The eerie silence of the abandoned sections of the station only heightened their awareness of the danger they were walking into.

"USB installed," Eidolon reported in a hushed tone, his voice crackling over the comms. "Let's get out of here."

"Keep it quiet," Shadow reminded the team, his voice a low rumble. "We don't need any more unwanted attention."

As they continued their stealthy advance, Doryani's gaze caught an EXIT sign pointing to an elevator. "We can take the elevator, it should be the fastest way to the docks," he suggested, glancing at the team.

Eidolon suddenly froze, his eyes glazing over as he saw a chilling vision. In his mind's eye, he witnessed two mechs—one armed with a flamer, the other with a shotgun— engaging the team in the elevator. Panic gripped his chest as he envisioned their demise, trapped and overwhelmed by the sudden assault.

"No," he said, his voice firm but quiet. "We can't take that elevator."

Doryani frowned, looking at Eidolon with a mix of confusion and concern. "But... It's the fastest way out."

Eidolon met Doryani's gaze, his expression serious. "Trust me on this. If we take that elevator, we won't get out alive. We need to find another way."

Atziri considered Eidolon's words for a moment before nodding. "Alright, we take the long way. Let's move."

The team continued their stealthy advance, each member moving with the grace and agility of trained operatives. They reached a cargo bay without incident, finding it eerily deserted. Inside, they found four mass printers humming with activity, each one churning out a brand-new mech.

"Perfect timing," Greasso whispered, her voice barely audible. "Let's block the entrance and wait for the prints to finish."

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"Atziri's patience wearing thin as the team set up a defensive perimeter near the cargo bay entrance, waiting for the mechs to finish printing. He glanced over at Doryani and Greasso, frustration evident in his voice. "Block that damn door, now!"

Greasso nodded, moving to secure the entrance methodically, checking the mechanisms and ensuring a proper blockade. Meanwhile, Doryani, ever the impatient, strode up to the door controls. "Look, it's easy," he declared, eyeing two random wires. "Just cross the red wire with the purple one."

Greasso shot him a bewildered look. "Doryani, those wires aren't red or purple—"

Before she could finish, Doryani completed his makeshift connection. There was a sudden surge of electricity, shocking him briefly. To everyone's surprise the door slammed shut with a resounding clunk, sealing them in.

Atziri raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. "Well, I'll be damned. Nice work, Doryani. Now let's stay focused. I have a feeling that were about to have company coming."

"We've got about five minutes until these mechs are ready," Greasso said, checking over the printers.

As the minutes ticked by, the tension in the cargo bay grew palpable. Atziri's fist clenched and un-clenched over and over, ready to leap into action at the first sign of trouble. Eidolon's vision still haunted him, but he remained focused on the task at hand.

"Prints are done," Shadow announced quietly.

The newly printed mechs stood tall and imposing, their frames gleaming under the cargo bay's harsh lighting. The team quickly approached their respective machines, ready to climb in and power them up.

"Alright, we're taking the shafts," Atziri ordered, his voice a low whisper. "Stay close and keep it quiet."

The team moved with purpose, their footsteps muted by the careful, deliberate movements of their pilots. They reached the entrance to the mine shafts, descending into the icy darkness below. The temperature dropped sharply, frost forming on their exteriors as they made their way deeper into the asteroid.

The tunnels twisted and turned, the darkness pressing in around them. Everyone's senses tingled with unease, a silent warning that they were not alone.

"Stay alert," Atziri whispered. "We're not alone down here."

Atziri took point, his weapon ready as they moved deeper into the shafts. Doryani followed closely, his eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of movement.

"Multiple contacts ahead," Doryani reported in a hushed tone, his voice tense. "Looks like they're waiting for us.

The team's advance through the twisting tunnels was met with fierce resistance. Enemy forces, alerted to their presence, swarmed from all directions. Atziri, took a front line role and led the charge with relentless determination, his heavy armor absorbing enemy fire as he pushed forward. Greasso, wielding a shotgun, supported Atziri closely, her precise shots and close-quarters combat skills providing a deadly complement to his aggressive onslaught.

"Keep them off us!" Atziri's voice boomed over the din, directing the team from the front lines as explosions echoed through the tunnels.

Shadow, being his usual stealthy sneaky self, maneuvered through the chaos with swift, silent efficiency. He utilized the tunnels' shadows to his advantage, striking from unexpected angles and neutralizing threats with lethal accuracy. Calculated and fluid movements cleared paths and eliminated enemies with swift, decisive strikes.

Doryani, positioned behind the front line, focused on providing support with his cyber warfare. His scans and tactical analysis enabled the team to anticipate enemy movements and vulnerabilities, enhancing their efficiency in combat. "Eidolon, watch our flank!" he shouted over comms, his attention split between monitoring enemy communications and directing defensive measures.

Eidolon's robotic companions darted ahead, their movements synchronized with precision as they engaged foes with calculated maneuvers. Eidolon himself kept a vigilant watch over their perimeter, his mind processing data streams and coordinating the team's responses.

The battle raged on, the team's cohesion and specialized roles proving crucial as they navigated the treacherous mine shafts. Each member contributed uniquely to their collective defense, their skills and determination driving them forward despite the overwhelming odds. They fought not just for survival, but for victory, their resolve unyielding in the face of Icebreaker's relentless defenses.

"We're pushing to the exit!" Atziri shouted, his voice ringing with determination amidst the cacophony of battle.

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