October 2074. Cerro de Punta Complex. Cordillera Central, Puerto Rico. Unincorporated Territory of the United Nations of America.
High atop the majestic Cerro de Punta, hidden amidst the verdant mountains of Puerto Rico, lay the pinnacle of Apex Industries architecture–the Cerro de Punta Complex. Carved into the peak with precision and artistry, the facility blended harmoniously with the natural surroundings as if it were an extension of the mountain itself.
The journey to the complex was a testament to the company’s commitment to secrecy and security. Discreet access tunnels wound through the rugged terrain, carefully concealed from prying eyes. Each step of the ascent was guarded by state-of-the-art surveillance systems, ensuring only authorized personnel could reach the complex's interior.
By contrast, the overt methods of ascension had been transformed so that any Puerto Rican citizen could take a Ward Model T to the crest of the mountain and visit the observatory and lookout point that the company had overhauled in a hard-won deal with the Puerto Rican government.
Apex Industries had been allowed to construct a complex, the depths of which even Governor Carrasquillo hadn’t been aware, so long as they rebuilt the tourist attractions it used to boast and provided free network access to the island.
Of course, that hadn’t bothered the company. It affected the security of the complex, but only marginally. The secrets of the complex were well concealed, and in Apex fashion, they had exceeded the Governor’s request. The citizens were provided free internet and cellular network access, and the company had included its own Public Augmented Network.
The PAN, as it had come to be known, was a public augmented reality interface combined with network access administered by Apex Industries. It was a platform that allowed citizens, administrators, and businesses to add data to a shared augmented reality. So long as one possessed the right equipment, they could get directions over their HUD, pull up details about the businesses or government buildings in view, or receive targeted advertising from nearby businesses–although commerce hadn’t progressed to such a point on the island that companies needed to aggressively advertise.
However, it wasn’t the PAN that Liam accessed as he stared down the length of massive hangar doors that allowed vehicle access to the heart of the complex. Instead, his neural implant connected to the Secure Augmented Network, or SAN.
The SAN was an augmented reality and communication protocol that overlaid the PAN. It was only accessible by the security forces of Apex and personnel like Liam. Access was granted on a person-by-person basis and only included the information relevant to the particular scope and duration of a specific operation. The network was administered and secured by Apate, the subordinate synthetic intelligence created on behalf of the intelligence department.
Liam, being the CEO, had access to everything, and once Apate confirmed his identity and reason for being at the secretive complex, the doors slid open with little more than a whisper.
Oskar drove them inside the complex and parked in the oversized underground parking garage. Inside were several other vehicles constructed to suit the company's needs. These were weaponized versions built on the same chassis as the Ward Model Ts and Vs. They had been stripped of the luxury features in their Ward Model cousins and augmented with more armor, stealth features, and automated weaponry. They were weapons of war, and Liam hoped they were never needed.
The pair left got out of their car and entered the complex. Upon crossing the threshold, Liam and Oskar were transported into a world of cutting-edge technology and innovation. The complex's interior was a blend of sleek minimalism and functional efficiency. Illuminated walkways guided them through spacious, interconnected chambers secure with biometric locks and meticulously designed to serve their specific purposes.
Laboratories hummed with activity, staffed by brilliant minds dedicated to pioneering research in several fields. Advanced equipment and intelligent robots assisted them in their efforts. By extension, the hallways were crowded with Apex staff moving to and fro on their assignments. It reflected the growing company that had swelled to more than ten thousand people.
Dotted among the civilians were many Apex security personnel. They patrolled the corridors along routes designed by the synthetic intelligence Apate, bearing advanced body armor and modular weaponry. As Liam and Oskar passed them, they gave respectful nods, eyes hidden behind fully enclosed helmets.
They passed the heart of the complex, a central hanger more than a mile in diameter that soared to the summit of Cerro de Punta. High above, concealed hangar doors separated the covered space from the stars above. It was the primary purpose of the complex, a vault to hide their stolen Priori ship and the reason Liam and Oskar were here.
They finally arrived at the ready room and entered to find the rest of the team accompanying them on the mission. Each member of the fourteen-man team, not counting Oskar and himself, had been handpicked by Liam and Marcus, their Chief Security Officer. They came from various military backgrounds–a couple had even been converts from Liam’s former employer, Valorus.
When the company moved to Puerto Rico, they saw the world-changing opportunities their employment afforded. Some months later, they had revealed the duplicitous origins of their hiring. Instead of being punished or fired as they had expected, Liam had rewarded their loyalty to his company with an even greater degree of trust and access to his inner circle.
As Liam entered the room, Marcus looked up from the mission details on the holographic interface before him.
“Hey, Ward. Right on time.”
“I couldn’t be late for the most important mission this company has ever taken,” Liam replied with a sloppy grin.
Marcus didn’t take the bait. Instead, he leveled a gaze at the CEO. “Are you sure I can’t convince you not to participate in this mission?”
The pair had argued over this aspect of the plan multiple times. Liam had been to the facility before; he had a direct connection to Priori technology, and more than that, he wasn’t the type of leader to issue orders from a control room.
Marcus, for his part, wanted to keep the head of the company safe. He thought it was an unacceptable risk for Liam to go on this smash-and-grab mission. However, Marcus Flint was a consummate professional. While they had argued about the topic in private, he would never undermine Liam’s leadership in front of the other men–a trait that Liam appreciated at that moment.
“I’m sure,” Liam said firmly, sitting opposite Marcus at the large circular table that dominated the room.
Oskar sat beside him, and the other team members idling around the chamber took their chairs as well. When all the humans were seated, Apex and Apate manifested their avatars in their customary places.
While Apex was his inhumanly perfect self, Apate chose a more reserved avatar. Her silhouette was hidden within the cowl of a deep, black robe. The fabric featured innumerable twinkling stars slowly being consumed by black holes–a visual metaphor for the role she had been created to fulfill.
“Alright, let’s get started,” Marcus said before swiping his personal interface to appear within the holoemitter in the center of the table, where it expanded dramatically. As he spoke, the interface morphed to reflect the details of the mission brief.”
“For those of you with whom I haven’t had much personal interaction. My name is Marcus Flint. I’m the Chief Security Officer for Apex Industries, and I’m joined by Liam Ward, the CEO and leader of this operation. With all our technology, this briefing will be a little informal. All of the details have been provided to your personal networks.”
“Now, you’re here today because you’ve been personally selected to join Operation Ghostbuster, so don’t fuck it up. This operation consists of two eight-man squads. First squad is the main effort, while second squad is the supporting effort. Your squad assignments are within the warning order you received yesterday.”
“We don’t have firm intelligence on the composition of our enemy. However, our best guess is a platoon-sized element consisting of multiple squads. They are expected to be patrolling the area of operations in shifts. If things go well, you’ll only have to worry about half the estimated enemy combatants. They have small arms–pistols, automatic rifles, and fragmentary and stun grenades.”
“We only have one aircraft, so there won’t be any backup. If shit hits the fan, exfiltrate to your ride and get the hell out of there. Under no circumstances are you to leave any equipment or technology that could point to the originating point of your mission.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Marcus paused and looked around the room. “Also, your aircraft is experimental and one-of-a-kind for now. So, we don’t need you knuckledraggers to break it. If you do, I’ll never hear the end of it from the engineers.” There was a round of chuckles in response.
“Moving on,” he continued as the images in the central projection changed. “First squad is to infiltrate the area of operations and seize the primary objective, a sophisticated space-capable ship of extraterrestrial origins. Second squad is to secure and reinforce first squad as needed.” At that, the projection displayed a wireframe diagram of the Priori exploratory ship and then zoomed out to show its relative location within the Yucca Mountain Complex.
There was a sharp intake of breath around the room as the ramifications of their mission fell upon the assembled team.
Marcus waited for their reaction to subside, then continued. “The intent of this mission is to seize the objective without being discovered. Should discovery be unavoidable, you are authorized to use deadly force.”
Marcus slowly looked around the table, pinning each team member with his eyes. “I want to make this clear. While we intend to limit the loss of life, this operation can never be traced back to Apex.”
Liam subtly raised a hand, and Marcus granted him the floor. The CEO rose to his feet and addressed the room. “This isn’t like your time in the military when your life was considered a fair trade to maintain the secrecy and security of your nation.” He paused dramatically. “Apex isn’t a nation–by all outward appearances, we’re a company.”
“However, Apex is more than that in reality. We’re an idea. You’ve seen the great lengths we’ve gone to better the world around us. You can see it in the everyday life of this island. We’ve transformed a crime-ridden, poverty-stricken people into the best this world can offer. Our mission is to uplift the entire world in the same way.”
Liam did his own scan of the assembled team with his eyes. “If you can’t see yourselves giving up your lives for a paycheck, think about our greater mission and the miracles we have yet to achieve. Also, think about the fact that the UNA had access to this same technology but misused it, so they weren’t allowed to spread it.”
Liam’s impromptu speech was rewarded with hard eyes and grim nods. They understood the importance of this mission and the more significant strategy of Apex Industries. They had seen the results play out across the island and understood why the company possessed the technology they had seemingly produced from thin air.
Liam took his seat, and Marcus continued. “You will cross the line of departure at approximately 2100 local time. Your aircraft, the Apex XUV-1, nicknamed Night Owl by the engineers, is a MACH-capable VTOL. It’s fast, stealthy, but has little in the way of armament. It’ll get you to the AO undetected in approximately four hours.”
There was a low whistle from one of the operators. That combination of speed, stealth, and capacity was practically unheard of in conventional warfare.
“You see why I don’t want you to break it,” Marcus dryly commented.
“Upon arrival at the AO,” he continued. “Both squads will enter the complex through a concealed hangar. First squad will advance on the objective, while second squad provides security for the entry point. Second’s squad's secondary objective will be to disable any enemy aircraft to prevent their pursuit.”
“Our electronic warfare capabilities on this mission are undoubtedly superior. The enemy will have no access to internal communications, surveillance systems, or access controls.”
“That makes this a short mission,” one of the men commented to a round of chuckles.
“Precisely,” Marcus agreed. “You’re to get in, take the objective, and get out.” He paused as he reviewed the brief for anything else he needed to detail. “Your coordinating instructions, admin and logistics, and command and signals have already been sent to your personal networks. Review them on the flight over.”
He looked up from his notes. “Any questions?”
Surprisingly, Oskar raised his hand. “Not a question, but a proposal.”
Marcus gestured for the other man to continue. “I propose that we change our call signs.”
Confusion crossed Marcus’ face. Usually, no one cared about the call signs unless a VIP was embedded in the operation. Some commanders carried notorious call signs that their men would adopt as a matter of pride and esprit de corps. Apex hadn’t had time to develop those sorts of traditions. “Go on,” he said despite his confusion.
“I propose we change our call signs to Warden.”
“Your reasoning?” Marcus inquired.
“It’s a play on words,” Oskar said, referring to the CEO’s last name. “But also the role we play in Apex and the world. I’ve been thinking about this a lot and suggest we informally adopt the designation when we’re on operations that directly contribute to our mission as an organization.”
When the bodyguard fell silent, Marcus looked around the room and considered the proposition. The men seemed to warm to the idea, showing looks of support for the new call sign. Finally, Marcus looked at Liam, who replied with a shrug.
He was slightly uncomfortable slapping his name on everything, but Oskar made a more substantial point than he probably realized. In Liam’s mind, paying his people high salaries to take risks wasn't enough. They needed to be bound together for an honorable purpose. Using a unique call sign seemed like a little thing, but the little stuff snowballed into greater movements.
“Proposal accepted,” Marcus decided. “Now get to the armory and gear up. You’re taking the best toys we have to offer. Try not to take too long.”
Marcus checked the time on the holographic display. “You have…two hours until departure.”
Liam left the room with the other operators as they went to the vast armory within the secretive complex. Upon entering, he was comforted by the familiar, organized precision with which the weapons were stored.
The walls were lined with racks of base pistols, each sleek and unadorned, awaiting their transformation. These pistols formed the foundation of Apex’s Modular Weapons Platform, designed to accommodate a wide array of components that could be easily added or removed to customize the weapon’s configuration.
Shelves upon shelves held an impressive array of modular components–scopes, barrels, grips, and various attachments–each designed with meticulous craftsmanship to seamlessly integrate with the base pistols. This modularity allowed the company’s security forces to easily adapt their weapons to specific missions or combat scenarios.
The armory’s centerpiece was a state-of-the-art workstation where robotic appendages could fine-tune the weapons and modular components. They possessed the ability to refine the weapons platform to an exacting degree absent from mundane armorers and technicians.
Beyond the modular weaponry and the robotic workstation, the crowning glory of the armory was rows upon rows of matte-black powered armor suits. These exoskeletons, devoid of logos or identifying features, represented the pinnacle of Apex’s personal protection technology. Their sleek and stealthy design, composed of hard lines and geometric angles, exuded an aura of technological prowess.
The suits were crafted from advanced, lightweight materials that provided unmatched mobility and protection. Each armor set came equipped with various built-in technological enhancements, including heads-up displays, life support systems, and integrated weapon interfaces. The armor’s construction made it invisible to conventional sensors and surveillance, while its shadowy finish made it easier to hide from more mundane forms of observation.
Liam passed by both the armor and the racks of weaponry. Heading instead to a wall of drawers containing the high-tech skinsuit that served as the armor's base. He dug one out and felt the fabric with his fingers.
It was composed of a silky blend of smart fibers and nano-enhanced textiles, making it lightweight, flexible, and capable of seamlessly integrating with their powered armor.
The suit was embedded with an array of microsensors and biometric scanners that continuously monitored the wearer's vital signs, body temperature, and physical performance. Relaying real-time data to the armor’s onboard computer and the control room within the complex. The suit represented the final layer that melded man with machine.
Liam quickly stripped down to his skin and pulled the suit over him. It covered him from his toes to just below his jaw. It was loose and bulky until he pressed a subtle button at the top of the collar. Once engaged, the suit began to shrink and conform to his body. He had to adjust a few times to ensure it didn’t bind in all the wrong places.
He looked around and saw the rest of his team donning the suits with practiced efficiency. These suits had become standard across their security forces. They had been training with them for almost a year by this point.
Not noticing any difficulties, Liam moved on to the armor. He began pulling the more prominent pieces off the rack and placing them in their designated spots on the skinsuit. They attached seamlessly, and once more elements were added, armored panels extended to link the various components together. After stepping into the one-size-fits-all boots, he finally slipped on the gauntlets.
Once the suit was sealed, he felt a subtle hum of energy coursing through his body. The suit’s systems connected with his implant, and he marveled at the seamless integration. With a simple thought, he tested the various functionalities of the armor.
Though the rest of his team lacked his implant, their integrations were no less impressive. Theirs relied instead on the sensors embedded in their skinsuits and helmets.
Forgoing his helmet for the moment, Liam stepped toward the weapons rack. The armor’s augmented strength became evident as his movements became more swift and decisive than usual. The armor took the limits of his gene-perfected body and exceeded them into the realm of superhuman. It was an intoxicating feeling of power and competence.
He picked up a base pistol, attached a suppressor, and magnetically locked it to his off-side cuisse. After that, he grabbed magazines of simple ammunition and secured them to the maglocks on his chest. Two fragmentary grenades took position at his waist, and then Liam moved on to the main event.
Starting with a base pistol, he added a barrel extension, collapsible stock, combat optic, and a suppressor. Once he was finished, he had an automatic rifle ready for war. He attached a three-point sling and let it rest against his chest. With free hands, he grabbed his helmet and placed it over his head for one final check.
His HUD flared to life as expected, overlaying critical information before his eyes. Real-time data from the sensors in the skinsuit prived insights into his physical condition, while a tactical display highlighted a mini-map, ammunition count, and equipment conditions. Everything looked the way it was supposed to. He was ready for the mission.