The Imperators gathered around a small, controlled campfire they'd set up amidst the towering trees and undergrowth, the forest canopy casting long, wavering shadows in the flickering firelight. Despite their enhanced bodies and cybernetics that lessened the need for rest, they recognized the importance of unwinding and mentally preparing for the next day's battle.

Sahaad sat down, rolling his shoulders to loosen them and laying his pulsar rifle beside him, its sleek metal casing gleaming faintly. He watched as the others settled in their own way. Nate leaned against a tree, carefully disassembling his plasma-heater rifle to inspect each part for wear, his motions methodical. Zara knelt by the fire, drawing a blade over a whetstone in long, steady strokes that sent soft metallic whispers into the quiet air. Sia seemed absorbed in calibrating her wrist-mounted rocket launcher, her brow furrowed in intense concentration.

"You know, I never thought I'd say this," Nate remarked with a dry smirk, "but a quiet night in the middle of enemy territory doesn't feel half bad."

Ji, lying on his back and looking up at the dimly visible stars through the trees, chuckled. "Don't get too comfy. Something tells me the Hive's going to have us up and moving before dawn."

Sahaad gave a half-smile at the exchange, appreciating the morale among his squad. "True," he said. "But until then, we rest. Our bodies need a break, even if our minds don't. We're still human in some way, even if the Federation doesn't think so."

Zara looked up, giving him a thoughtful glance. "Human or not, we'll need all the energy we can muster tomorrow. This Phage encounter… it means the Hive knows we're here."

Sia glanced around the camp, then locked eyes with Sahaad. "Tomorrow, we'll face an army bred specifically to stop beings like us. But we're better trained, better equipped—and we have each other." She grinned, adding, "So let's get the job done."

Kato grinned as he pulled out a small disk from his utility pouch, pressing a button on its side. In an instant, the disk unfolded into a compact mini-fridge, humming softly as it came online. "One of the perks of Federation tech," he smirked, giving the others a wink. The Imperators watched with bemusement as he opened the fridge door, revealing neatly packed energy drinks, nutrient packs, and a few flasks with unknown liquids.

"This," Kato announced proudly, "is exactly what I signed up for. A portable supply of everything we need."

Ji raised an eyebrow. "Pocket dimension tech. We're out here facing creatures beyond human comprehension, and you bring… some drinks?"

Kato pulled out a sleek, silver flask from the bottom of the mini-fridge with a mischievous grin. "Not just any drink, my friends. This," he said, holding it up, "is Ingueno alcohol, a Fey beverage. Strong enough to poison a human if they drink it. We're talking about the real stuff here."

The others glanced at each other skeptically. Nate crossed his arms, looking unimpressed. "You do realize our systems metabolize standard alcohol in seconds, right? I don't know why you bothered."

Kato rolled his eyes, uncorking the flask. "That's because you've never tried this before. The Fey have much stronger stomachs than humans, I've heard from the Praetorians that their alcohol can even affect us," he said,

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"You sure they were not just messing with you?", Sia questioned, in disbelief that the Praetorians were actually affected by it.

Kato passed around smaller flasks to everyone. "One sip, and you'll feel it."

Everyone raised their flasks, clinking them together with a quiet toast to tomorrow's fight. Then, as one, they took a long drink.

There was a pause, as they collectively held their breaths, waiting for some sign of the legendary Fey fire. The warmth was pleasant enough, with a slight tingle—but nothing close to what they'd expected.

Zara let out a sigh, shaking her head. "Still nothing. Not even a buzz."

Ji laughed, setting down his flask. "So much for the drink of legends. Guess the Fey aren't as tough as they claim."

Kato groaned, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Guess I overhyped it. Maybe I need to find a tougher species to drink from."

Sahaad chuckled. "At least you tried. Maybe you should turn your attention to brewery, make something that we can actually enjoy."

They laughed together, passing the flasks around anyway.

After drinks, The Imperators tore open the nutrient packs, revealing the familiar, grayish cubes inside. They'd long lost any expectation of taste—these blocks were purely functional, engineered for peak efficiency rather than pleasure. Each cube contained everything they needed to maintain their bodies and enhance their capabilities, balancing an exact blend of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and synthetically enriched compounds. The taste was as neutral as it looked, but it was reliable, a constant in their lives since day one.

"Another century, another cube," Ji muttered, tossing his portion into his mouth. "Would it really kill them to add something?"

"You say that every time," Sia replied, smirking as she chewed. "Our bodies are optimized for function, not luxury. That means every nutrient counts."

"And that means every meal is as thrilling as yesterday's," Nate added dryly.

At least, Sahaad thought, they didn't need much of it. With highly efficient metabolisms, they could make a single nutrient cube last a week if necessary, their systems extracting every ounce of energy and storing it for prolonged periods. While ordinary people would need consistent intake, the Imperators were designed for endurance and durability. This was practical, but sometimes he wondered what it would be like to enjoy an actual meal again.

With the laughter fading, Sahaad activated his holo-map, casting a blue grid over the forest floor, detailing the vast canyon-riddled landscape surrounding them. The map projected a detailed scan of the area, pinpointing the location of the pulsing tendrils—the heart of their mission.

"Listen up," Sahaad said, his tone resolute. "Our objective is simple: stop the tendrils from draining Rhys' energy. We're not here to fight every last Brood soldier, just to cut their power at the source. Once the tendrils are down, reinforcements can mop up the remnants of the hive."

He tapped on a canyon outline, zooming in to highlight the twisting paths they'd take. "We'll advance through here," he pointed, tracing a narrow, winding route leading into the heart of the hive's tendrils. "We move quickly and quietly, minimizing contact. Ammo and resources are finite, and we'll need everything we have for the tendrils themselves."

"Once we reach the tendrils," he continued, "Ji and Sia will deploy the viral bombs. They're set to activate after ten seconds, giving us just enough time to get clear. We'll regroup here"—he indicated a high ridge near the tendrils—"and monitor the damage before extraction."

Sia nodded, her eyes fixed on the hologram. "What about potential obstacles? Brood drones? Or more likely a hecatoncheires"

"Expect heavy resistance the closer we get to the core," Sahaad replied. "Phages, maybe even another commander, especially near the tendrils. We have to stay sharp, focus on reaching the objective, and trust our armor and each other."

Ji grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Right—get in, break stuff, get out. Simple enough."

"Stay vigilant," Sahaad emphasized. "This isn't a frontal assault. We're a surgical strike force, aiming straight for the lifeline. Keep comms open, stay close, and trust your training."

As they studied the map one last time, each Imperator mentally prepared, recalibrating focus and recalling every drill and strategy for the dangers ahead.