The metallic hum of the Colony Space Station Atlas One reverberated through Ryn's body as she tightened the straps of her drop suit. The other Droppers around her were doing the same, each one lost in their own pre-mission rituals. Some exchanged nervous glances, while others stared ahead, mentally preparing for the challenges on the surface of Abos.

"Five minutes to drop," announced a voice over the intercom, crisp and authoritative. Ryn took a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline surge through her veins. This was it—the moment she had been waiting for.

She looked out the small viewport next to her seat. Abos loomed below, its surface a mix of forests, dark ruins, and vast, desolate wastelands. It was both beautiful and foreboding.

"Ready for this?" asked a voice beside her. Ryn turned to see a fellow player, a woman with short-cropped hair and a confident smile.

"Yeah," Ryn replied softly. "What about you?”

"Same," the woman said. "Name's Elara. See you on the ground, yeah?”

Ryn nodded. The intercom crackled again.

"Prepare for drop."

The doors of the drop bay opened, revealing a row of sleek, silver pods. She climbed into one, feeling the cushioned interior conform to her body. The hatch closed with a hiss, sealing her in. Her heart pounded in her chest as the countdown began.

"Three... Two... One... Launch."

With a sudden jolt, Ryn's pod shot out of the bay and into the void, plummeting towards the planet below. The force pressed her back into her seat, but she kept her eyes fixed on the window, watching as the atmosphere rushed up to meet her. Flames licked the edges of the pod as it streaked through the sky. The pod broke through the clouds, chaos unfolding below.

The surface was a warzone. Unused air cannons from the initial defense against the Wastes had been reactivated, their barrels glowing ominously as they targeted the descending Droppers. Explosions erupted in the sky as pods were struck, torn apart by the powerful blasts. The smell of burning metal filled Ryn's nostrils, and her pod shuddered violently as it was clipped by shrapnel.

"Come on, hold together," she muttered, gripping the controls tightly. Her pod spiraled, alarms blaring as damage indicators flashed red. The ground rushed up to meet her, and with a final, bone-rattling impact, the pod hit the surface, skidding to a halt.

The hatch blew open with a burst of compressed air and Ryn stumbled out, her body aching from the rough landing. She glanced at the watch on her wrist, and a holographic sphere appeared above it, displaying her status. Her Body Core—the measure of her health—was dangerously low, almost at zero. The sphere also showed her mission and inventory, she didn’t have much on her.

"Quest: Secure the Landing Zone. Reward: 100 XP,"

The text projected from the sphere. Ryn's eyes narrowed as she took in her surroundings. The landing zone was a mess of twisted metal and smoking craters. Nearby, she saw the remnants of other pods, some intact, others reduced to wreckage.

A high-pitched screech drew her attention. Emerging from the shadows were the Wastes, grotesque creatures that had once been human. Their deformed bodies and glowing eyes made them a terrifying sight. Ryn quickly scanned her inventory—she had a nano-sword and a tech-pistol, her basic Assault Dropper weapons.

With her Body Core nearly depleted, she knew she had to act fast. She couldn't afford another hit. She took a deep breath. The familiar rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins. This was what she lived for—the thrill of the game, and the challenge of survival.

Ryn moved cautiously through the debris, her weapon at the ready. She spotted an old air cannon blown to bits. It could provide some cover. She made her way towards it, the sounds of battle intensifying around her. Other players were engaging the Wastes, their shouts and the sounds of combat filling the air.

"Elara, where are you?" she muttered under her breath, hoping her ally had made it through the descent unscathed.

Reaching the cannon, Ryn ducked behind it, taking a moment to catch her breath. She checked her watch again, confirming her Body Core's critical state, Ryn had hoped her HP would’ve gradually gone back up on its own but she soon realized that was a skill she needed to acquire from the skill tree, and she had no points to spend yet. She needed to complete the quest and find a way to restore her health. She peered around the weapon, assessing the battlefield. The Wastes were closing in, but she was ready. With a determined smile, she moved forward, ready to secure the landing zone and prove herself.

Chaos unfolded around her. Many Droppers—players like her—were dying before they even hit the ground. The air cannons were relentless, blowing pods out of the sky with lock-on precision. The landscape was littered with debris and the remains of unfortunate players who hadn't been as lucky with their landing.

"I need to take out those cannons," Ryn muttered, formulating a plan. She glanced at her watch, the holographic sphere displaying her current objective. Securing the landing zone seemed impossible with the weapons operational. They had to be destroyed.

Dodging between pieces of wreckage, Ryn made her way towards the nearest cannon. The Wastes were everywhere, ugly and relentless. She yanked her bracelet from her wrist, and with a fluid motion, it transformed into her nano-sword, its blade humming with energy. In her other hand, she readied her pistol, feeling the cool metal against her palm.

Ryn sprinted towards the cannon, her eyes scanning for any sign of weakness. It was a massive, high-tech structure, its surface bristling with sensors and weaponry. She would need to be strategic. As she approached, she saw a cluster of thick cables and hoses snaking out from the base, powering the cannon.

"Okay, time to get to work," she whispered to herself. She swung her sword, slicing through the tangle of wires. Sparks flew, and a high-pitched whine practically screamed from the cannon. She dove for cover as a small explosion rocked the area, the weapon shuddering but not yet disabled.

Ryn peeked out from behind her cover, assessing the damage. The control panel was still active, lights flashing urgently. She needed to finish the job. Taking a deep breath, she sprinted towards the control panel, dodging incoming fire from nearby Wastes. With a powerful slash, she severed the panel from its mounts, exposing all the wires and circuits.

She fired her gun into the exposed wiring, and the cannon let out a deafening roar as it exploded, a plume of fire and debris shooting into the sky. Ryn was thrown backward by the blast, landing hard on the ground. Her ears rang, but she managed to scramble to her feet, shaking off the shock.

"One down," she breathed, her heart racing. But there were more cannons, and she needed to move fast.

She sprinted to the next one, using the wreckage as cover. The sounds of battle raged around her, but she focused on her task, if she didn’t, more Droppers would succumb to the cannons. Another came into view, and she repeated the process. This time, she approached from behind, using the terrain to her advantage. She cut through the power cables and hoses with swift strikes, causing the cannon to sputter.

As she reached the control panel, a Waste lunged at her, its claws narrowly missing her head. Ryn spun around, her sword flashing as she cut through the creature with a single blow. She turned back to the panel and fired into it, watching as the cannon exploded in a fiery burst.

"Two down," she muttered, already moving towards the third. Her muscles burned with exertion, but she couldn't stop now.

She arrived at the third cannon, panting and exhausted. This one was heavily guarded, a group of Wastes clustered around it. Ryn clenched her jaw and charged, she cut a path through the creatures with ease, they were no match for her blade. Ryn reached the base of the cannon and began cutting through the power cables, feeling the heat from the sparking wires.

As she worked, more Wastes closed in, drawn by the noise. Ryn fought them off quickly, her tech-pistol in her off-hand providing necessary firepower. She reached the control panel and destroyed it, the cannon exploding in a violent blast that knocked her to the ground.

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"Three down," she gasped, struggling to her feet. She couldn't afford to rest. She moved towards the fourth cannon, her body protesting every step.

She approached the fourth, her vision blurred with fatigue. She cut through the cables and hoses once again, then attacked the control panel. The cannon exploded with a final, echoing thud, and Ryn stumbled away from the wreckage.

A new notification appeared in the holographic sphere above her watch:

"Objective Updated: Destroy all air cannons in the landing zone. Progress: 4/5."

Ryn didn't pause to celebrate. She dashed towards the fifth and final cannon. Ryn's heart pounded as she approached the final air cannon. She could almost taste victory, her senses sharpened by the urgency of the situation. But as she drew nearer, a sudden shift in the atmosphere caught her attention.

The air around the cannon rippled and shimmered with a bright blue hue, forming a protective force field that encased the structure. Ryn's eyes widened in alarm.

Her mind raced, analyzing the situation. She couldn't afford to retreat. She tightened her grip on her sword and gun, ready to fight through the shield with all her strength.

Before Ryn could formulate a plan, the air cannon's defenses sprang into action. With a low hum, the force field intensified, pulsating with energy as it braced itself against any impending attack. Ryn knew she had to act fast, but as she moved to strike, a chilling realization dawned upon her.

The cannon wasn't targeting her or the other Droppers now—it was aiming at the Atlas.

A surge of panic gripped Ryn's chest as she watched in horror. The cannon's dark red laser pierced through the sky with deadly accuracy, a beam of destruction hurtling towards the distant space station. At that moment, time seemed to stand still.

The ground below fell eerily silent as the fighting ceased, the chaos of battle momentarily forgotten in the face of impending catastrophe. All eyes were fixed on the unfolding tragedy, a collective gasp echoing through the ranks of players as Atlas One was consumed by a fiery explosion. The shockwave rippled across the surface of Abos.

She watched in horror as a blinding light erupted from the explosion, illuminating the sky with a brilliance that seared through Ryn's senses. The intensity of the light was almost unbearable, engulfing her in a wave of overwhelming brightness.

With a gasp, Ryn instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes from the blinding glare. The glow of the explosion washed over her, painting her vision with streaks of vivid color. The heat radiating from the explosion prickled against her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

For a fleeting moment, Ryn felt as though she were suspended in a surreal dreamscape, her surroundings warped and distorted by the dazzling display of light.

As the light began to fade and the deafening roar of the explosion gradually subsided, Ryn lowered her hand, her eyes adjusting to the dimmer glow that now enveloped the landscape.

“So this is the game.” She whispered to herself.

Ryn's heart pounded as she turned back tothe final air cannon, the last obstacle in securing the landing zone. The high-tech structure loomed ahead, its barrel already glowing ominously as it began tracking targets in the sky once again. She knew she had to disable it before it took out more Droppers.

She felt a presence beside her and turned to see Elara, her face streaked with dirt. "Ryn, you made it," Elara panted, clutching her tech-rifle. "That last explosion almost took me out."

"Elara, thank God," Ryn said, her voice tight with urgency. "We need to take out this last cannon. It has some kind of force field. I can't get close."

Elara nodded, her eyes scanning the battlefield. "Alright, let's think this through. Maybe we can overload the field. There has to be a power source."

Ryn glanced around, seeing if she can find anything. "Okay, let’s do it.”

"Let's split up," Elara suggested. "I'll keep those Wastes off you. You find a way to disable the force field. Look for any exposed power lines."

"Got it," Ryn replied, gripping her sword. "Be careful."

"You too," Elara said, giving her a quick nod before darting off to the side, firing her gun to draw the Wastes’ attention.

Ryn moved quickly, using the chaos of the battle to her advantage. She kept low, scanning the base of the cannon for any signs of vulnerability. Her eyes locked onto a cluster of power cables running from a nearby generator to the weapon. It was heavily guarded by Wastes, but she didn't have a choice.

Her hand tightened around the hilt of her sword, its blade humming with energy, and charged towards the generator. The Wastes turned their faces towards her, snarling as they lunged to attack. Ryn cut through them one by one. In this area, they were only low level enemies and fairly easy to take care of.

Ryn reached the generator, she saw the control panel, its surface covered in blinking lights and intricate circuitry. She had to be quick. She sliced through the protective casing with her sword, exposing the inner workings. Sparks flew as she mangled the power cables, severing the connection to the force field.

The cannon's shield flickered, the bright blue light dimming as the force field began to destabilize. Ryn felt a surge of hope—she was making progress.

"Ryn, watch out!" Elara's voice rang out, urgent and alarmed.

She turned just in time to see a Waste lunging at her, its claws reaching out to grab her. She brought her sword up, the blade slicing through the creature with a clean, decisive motion. The Waste crumpled to the ground, and Ryn quickly turned back to the control panel, making the final cuts needed to disable the force field completely.

With a low hum, the shield surrounding the cannon collapsed, leaving it vulnerable. A rush of relief washed over Ryn as Elara severed the final connections, disabling the weapon for good.

The scent of burning metal and scorched earth hung heavy in the air. Ryn wiped the sweat from her brow. The once-deadly landscape was now eerily silent, the Wastes lying in piles where they had fallen, and the cannons reduced to smoking ruins.

Elara approached, her rifle slung over her shoulder. She looked tired. "That's the last of them," she said, her voice filled with relief. "We did it."

Ryn nodded, her thoughts still lingering on the loss of the Atlas "Yeah," she muttered, glancing skyward at the falling debris from the exploded space station. "We need to regroup and figure out our next move."

Elara agreed, and together they moved through the wreckage, calling out to any surviving Droppers. One by one, players emerged from their hiding spots, some injured, others shaken but alive. They gathered in a makeshift circle, their faces reflecting exhaustion.

Ryn took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "Alright, everyone, listen up," she began, her voice carrying authority. "The cannons are down, and the Wastes in this area are dead. We need to take a few minutes to gather ourselves, treat any injuries, and plan our next steps.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the group. Elara stepped forward, addressing the players. "If you have any medical supplies, now's the time to share. Let's make sure everyone is healed up as best as we can."

Ryn and Elara moved through the group, helping where they could. Ryn activated her watch, checking her inventory and distributing healing items she got from her battles with the Wastes, to those in need. The sphere displayed their next objective: "Regroup and Secure the Area."

Ryn noticed a young man struggling with a deep gash on his arm. She knelt beside him, pulling out a med-kit from her pack. "Hold still," she instructed, administering a quick-acting nanobot injection to accelerate healing.

"Thanks," the young man said, wincing as the nanobots took effect. "I'm Kyle, by the way."

"Ryn," she replied with a small smile. "Hang in there, Kyle. We’re going to get through this."

Once the immediate injuries were tended to, Ryn and Elara regrouped with the other Droppers, everyone taking a moment to catch their breath.

Ryn stood, her eyes scanning the group. "We need to move forward. Our first priority is to secure a safe location where we can set up a temporary base. From there, we can plan our next moves.”

Elara nodded, adding, "We should scout the area for any remaining Wastes and look for resources. We need to be prepared for anything."

A burly man with a scar across his cheek stepped forward. "Name's Jax," he said. "I've got some experience in tactical operations. I can lead a small team to scout the perimeter."

"Thanks, Jax," Ryn said, appreciating his initiative. "Take a couple of people with you. The rest of us will start fortifying this area."

As Jax and his team moved out, Ryn turned to Elara. "We need to make sure everyone is ready for whatever comes next. This is just the beginning."

Elara nodded. "Agreed. But for now, let's take these few minutes to rest and regroup. We've all been through a lot and we just landed.”

Elara was right, not many of them made it through the landing unscathed. Many of their Body Cores were at the brink when they emerged from their pods. Ryn allowed herself a moment to sit and catch her breath. She glanced at her watch, the holographic sphere displaying her health and inventory. Her Body Core was slowly regenerating from a health stim. They needed to find more supplies. They didn’t have enough from the low level enemies to go around if a large group of Wastes attacked. The little health items they did have, vanished quickly.

The other Droppers around her were doing the same—healing up wounds, sharing resources, and quietly discussing their plans. Despite the exhaustion etched on their faces, there was a spark of something in their eyes. They had survived the initial descent and the onslaught of the Wastes, and now they were ready to face whatever came next.

Ryn leaned back, looking up at the sky. The wreckage of Atlas One still glowed faintly in the distance. She clenched her fist. They had lost the space station, but they hadn't lost the fight. Not yet.

"Alright," she said, standing up and addressing the group once more. "Let's get to work. We've got a planet to take back."